How COVID-19 Spreads via the Aircon
In the News
This is an interesting (early release) article about how COVID-19 spread from 1 to 9 people (in three different families, at different tables) in a restaurant.
Doesn't sound good for aircon restaurants, offices, trains, buses, or planes! Or air-con anywhere really.
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/7/20-0764_article
This is an interesting read and it was a conversation I had at the outset. What does amaze me is that we haven't dealt with air traffic entering the country with no apparent restrictions/quarantine. (air re-circulation)
Hmmm. One million people commuting to London by aircon train every day (until recently).
And some of the tube lines have it - the Circle, District, Metropolitan and the Hammersmith & City lines. I wonder if they'll keep it on or turn it off over the summer. It can be sweltering without it.
I absolutely hate air conditioning. This with open plan hot desking in offices. It's a recipe for disaster.
Having been in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda over Christmas crossing all borders land and air we had our temperature checked and had to wash hands. This was because Ebola is still a risk but these checks should have been implemented at all airports immediately.
it is not the air cond....but the air ventilation system which uses the same air...that is why I am so scared from work, it is the same in retail buildings...the air moves, but it is the same air...and the virus just travel with it.
And it is Summer without it the heat inside would be Sahara.
That all seems to be stating the obvious. We all know how air conditioning works don't we? It often affects me in the office, especially during hayfever season when it's pulling all the pollen in and blasting it back out into my face.
Yes, it is obvious. Which begs the question are enough people on the case, and would some of the millions being spent on PPE have been better spent on improving air-con systems?
I wonder how many of LD users who usually work in an air-con environment, have bothered to ask their employer to change their air-con systems asap – ideally before they are called back to work. By, for example, installing more outflow ventilation ducts to remove potentially infected particles.
Two metre social distancing is great, but what is perhaps not so obvious is that the particles from a Covid-19 cough can spread up to 65 ft (20 metres) in large hall like spaces (like Nightingale hospitals and supermarkets) with top down ventilation vents because of the air currents.
A million people travelling on packed trains into London every day sounds like a second spike in the making to me, especially with no vaccine in sight for at least a year, possibly two years. Is anyone fixing the trains right now? Seems obvious, but I doubt it.
Johnny I'd be questioning whether it has been addressed in the places we've all been visiting even during lockdown eg. shops before even thinking about offices. And yes, I forget obvious to some us doesn't mean obvious to all. Maybe the government should put it in their guidelines. Have you thought of highlighting it to them maybe? Again, surely they've thought of it when providing guidance to businesses but who knows?
I'm currently suffering from moderate to severe symptoms of Covid 19 and my breathing is difficult even after minor exertion. I live alone in my house apart from 2 cats but I have ceiling fans fitted and they increase the oxygen in the air quite dramatically, with them off I struggle to breathe more but with them on I am comfortable. I've always struggled with hot temperatures more than cold so when I moved in it was one of the first upgrades I did and I am so thankful I did now with my current condition. Of course if I didn't live alone they would not be ideal to say the least. Assuming it will take a while to regain my full lung capacity I would favour locations with air conditioning. So not only would air conditioning spread the virus but it would attract people previously infected with covid 19 because it would ease their reduced lung capacity condition. I can certainly recommend you don't get it. At worst it was like I was being strangled by the grim reaper, it took me completely by surprise and there was about 5 minutes of horror.
If you end up in this situation, don't panic, stop any exertion, breathe rapidly and slowly move to position where you either go outside or can stick your head out of a window to get fresh air. Also take vitamin 'D' and zinc at the maximum daily allowed dose. The most comfortable breathing position for me is a sitting position. Try to get out into the sun as much as possible to boost your vitamin 'D' naturally. If you are pre-tanned then you definitely need to take vitamin 'D' rich foods as well as supplements.
Johnny Much appreciated, I'm starting to feel a little bit better now at least regarding the breathing but fighting the virus is making me very fatigued. Reduced lung capacity is no fun to say the least.
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