In July, The New York Times shared that “the coronavirus can stay aloft for hours in tiny droplets in stagnant air, infecting people as they inhale.” Not only can COVID-19 survive for hours in the air, but depending on a room’s airflow, temperature, and humidity, a cough can send respiratory droplets as far as 19 feet away, and a sneeze can send droplets up to 26 feet.Ĭanada updated its COVID-19 guidelines to include the risk of airborne spread. We know the virus can remain in the air for a long time depending on indoor conditions. Virus particles were found in the air at the home, and it’s possible a faulty ventilation system contributed to the outbreak. In May of 2020, a nursing home outbreak in Montreal infected 226 residents and 148 employees. It’s also extremely important to remember that COVID-19 can be spread by people who are not showing any symptoms-which means that simply sharing the airspace of someone unknowingly infected with COVID could result in you becoming infected yourself. The CDC says, “the more closely a person interacts with others and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread.” If one of these people is infected with COVID-19 and they cough, sneeze, speak, or sing, respiratory droplets are produced that can be inhaled by or land in the mouths and noses of those around them. This refers to people who are in close proximity to one another-within six feet. It’s becoming more and more clear just how important airflow and proper ventilation are to combating the spread of COVID-19.Īt this stage, health experts believe a key factor in the spread of COVID-19 is through person-to-person transmission. These scenarios play out time and time again in homes, offices, churches, schools, bars, and restaurants where people gather inside. If the entire group continues to wear a mask but also cuts the visit in half and adds natural or mechanical ventilation, only one person is likely to become infected. If every person were wearing a mask under the same circumstances, four people are still likely to become infected. It’s estimated that if an infected person and five other people spend four hours speaking loudly in a room together, all five of the other people will become infected, even if they were seated apart. Masks reduce your risk, but they need to be combined with sufficient ventilation. Interactive mapping illustrates how dangerous indoor environments are without natural or mechanical airflow.Ĭase studies consistently show that masks are not enough to prevent coronavirus transmission when people spend a prolonged amount of time together indoors. New research and recent case studies have shed light on how the coronavirus spreads indoors. So, are air purifiers effective for COVID-19 prevention, and what do you need to look for?
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