According to research from Harvard University, COVID-19 particles present in the coughs, sneezes, or exhaled breath of an infected person can disperse throughout a room and remain airborne for hours. Should an individual inhale a sufficient amount of particles, they could contract the virus even without close contact with the infected person. Many air systems recirculate some fraction of indoor air to save on energy costs. However, during a pandemic, air recirculation can cause an accumulation of infectious particles in the air and potentially spread the virus throughout the building. Reprograming the HVAC system to bring fresh air into a room can dilute and/or displace any present airborne virus, thus reducing the probability of an occupant inhaling enough aerosols to become infected.