Analysis of SARS‐CoV‐2 Transmission by Airborne Droplets in a Restaurant Outbreak: A CFD Approach

Restaurants have played a vital role in spreading the respiratory virus due to the invalidation of certain preventive behaviors such as mask wearing. We analyzed a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak involving two clusters in a restaurant to analyze SARS-CoV-2 transmission by airborne droplets, including aerosols, in a restaurant outbreak. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to simulate the spread of respiratory droplets generated by coughing. The cough jet was modeled as a turbulent jet to study the dispersion of expiratory droplets, with the realizable k-ε model being applied in this simulation. This outbreak involved six diners (A, B, D, E, F, and G) in two clusters (X and Y). But the two clusters were seated at two tables separated by over 3 m from each other, while none of the 18 patrons at the other seven tables, even patrons at neighboring tables, became infected. Upon further investigation, we found that the index case in Cluster X coughed violently with his head facing posterior to the right when Diner F entered the restaurant and passed the posterior side of the index case. Adequate droplets were ejected from the index case and were inhaled by Diner F or trapped by the surfaces of Diner F's hands, clothing, and belongings. The virus-laden droplets and aerosols generated by coughing can be responsible for inhalation or contamination of surfaces that they fall onto, leading to spread of the disease.