
I’m not sure when the myth started that COVID-19 is only spread through large droplets (like sneezes or coughs). Y’all, it’s just not true. COVID-19 is spread also through the tiny particles expelled when someone sing, shouts, breathes or coughs – known as aerosol transmission. Those REALLY small, microscopic particles can spread much, much farther than the big sneeze droplets that fall to the ground quicker. This post is not meant to convince you of that fact about aerosol transmission (you can see previous posts on that). So, don’t miss the point of this post.
This post is to help people figure out what to do if you now find yourself in an enclosed workspace with other people, students, children. Why is it important to protect yourself there? And, how can you protect yourself?
These points are taken from a great article written by a mechanical engineer. https://heavy.com/news/2020/08/ventilation-air-filtration-coronavirus-covid19-indoors/
๐. ๐๐๐๐ซ ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ๐ค. ๐๐ฅ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ. ๐๐ญ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฌ- This is especially true in enclosed spaces. Masks work (see my Table of Contents on the science). You have to wear a mask EVEN when you do other precautions noted below (open windows, air purifiers, etc). For example, you can’t take your mask off if you open a window.
๐. ๐๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ญ ๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ค ๐จ๐ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐๐-๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ง ๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ญ ๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ. This has to do with air circulation and the tiny particles that can travel further than 6 feet. Wear your mask at the SAME TIME as being 6 feet apart.
๐. ๐๐จ๐ฎ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐จ ๐๐จ๐ญ๐ก. I am hearing from a LOT of people who do not feel safe in their own workplaces. The bosses are saying, “As long as we stay 6 feet apart, we are fine” or “You don’t to wear a mask in a meeting as long as we are 3ish feet apart”. If you are outside, yes. If you are inside, no. DO BOTH.
๐. ๐๐๐ญ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ซ ๐ข๐ง. Open a window and bring in the outside air to replace stale inside air. Put a box fan in the window blowing out the air too.
๐. ๐๐จ๐จ๐ค ๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ซ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฆ. The article cites needing at least an air exchange rate of nine times per hour for a 10 foot by 10 foot room with 3 to 4 people in it. In a classroom with 17 students or a conference room with 8 employees, that needs to be more.
๐. ๐๐๐ญ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ข๐ซ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ซ๐ฌ. If you are in a room without a window or proper air circulation, consider an air purifier – one with a filter made of tightly woven fibers. The best option is one with a HEPA filter and depends on the size of the room. These are not perfect in protecting against COVID-19 and are not substitute for masks/distancing. But could be another layer of protection.
๐. ๐๐๐ฏ๐จ๐๐๐ญ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ก๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ง. If you can do your job from home, try to do so. Be bold and ask. Or, try to set up alternate work schedules where you limit the number of people in a workplace at a certain time. Especially in these next few months as we go into flu season. Many of us know it’s not going to get better. Advocate for yourself to do your job from home if you can – being proactive is always better than reactive when it comes to COVID. (I fully understand that many people cannot do their jobs from home. But, there are a lot more of us who can for the next months. Let’s be innovative!)
๐. ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐ฏ๐จ๐๐๐ญ๐! Many people will wholeheartedly agree with these precautions, but will not be in a position to install new HEPA filters or ask everyone in their workplace to wear a mask. My advice is to try and try again. Advocate with the science for better filters or air purifiers for your office. Advocate for alternate work schedules. Get a good mask for yourself and ask others to wear them if you have a meeting. ๐พ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ . ๐ป๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐!
With the start of schools and colleges, I do not have a good outlook on what’s to come – especially in states with high positivity rates. If you feel unsafe, speak up and do what you can.
Being proactive is always better than reactive when it comes to COVID.
-Friendly neighbor epidemiologist
Source: https://heavy.com/news/2020/08/ventilation-air-filtration-coronavirus-covid19-indoors/