Concordia COVID-19 mapping tool shows transmission high in Montreal offices and schools

Where are you most likely to catch COVID-19 in Montreal? Researchers at Montreal’s Concordia University created a web tool – CityRPI – that tracks areas of COVID-19 transmission.

They say that the highest risks of infection are in schools and the office. With many heading back into the office and mask mandates for most public places coming to an end as of May 14th in Quebec – some saying they will proceed with caution.

COVID map of downtown Montreal from the CityRPI web tool. (Photo Credit: Concordia University)

“I keep my mask, but we have to be also really smart. I think there’s certain areas where you can take it off, but just use the logic,” said a Montrealer CityNews spoke to.

Concordia University associate professor of building engineering, Leon Wang and PHD students created the web tool. “This tool was first created two years ago, around June 2020. And we started looking at evaluating airborne transmissions in Montreal,” said Wang.

The tool has an interactive map – anywhere in North America – and it can help determine the risks of airborne infection in indoor public spaces.

COVID data from the CityRPI web tool. (Photo Credit: Concordia University)

There are limitations says Wang, like not taking into account the year of construction of schools, or the maintenance level of the ventilation systems in buildings – but he explains that the data his team gathered can help health officials and the public, formulate the best strategies to reduce the risk of transmission.

“When we have, say, a case or outbreak in the building and the chance of another person can get infected will be higher in offices and our archetypes. This is a so-called conditional probability.”

Quebec’s worker’s board, the CNESST, reported five COVID-19 deaths in 2021 linked to workplaces.

In the office as in school, when social distancing is not possible, masks remain the best strategy experts say.

COVID map of downtown Montreal from the CityRPI web tool. (Photo Credit: Concordia University)

“Even if we are getting rid of that mandate, I don’t believe that there’s any sort of contrary mandate saying that people can’t wear masks. And so I would still say that both if you want to protect yourself as well as you want to protect those around you, especially if you’re working with people who may have risk factors,” explained Dr. Matthew Oughton, Infectious diseases specialist, Jewish General Hospital.

Wang added, “the major conclusion is, every building is different. So it’s very important to develop a customized solution.”