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Opening windows and good ventilation can reduce the risk of contracting the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 to spread indoors, a new study published in the BMJ medical journal has revealed. Medical experts proposed on Thursday that even though SARS-CoV-2 has rapid air transmission, there is growing evidence that the virus spreads more in poorly ventilated spaces, and opening windows may cause it. actually reduce the concentrations of the virus that could air, scientists said.
This small measure, which resembles a face mask, has long been ignored during the pandemic, experts in the study said. As the rate of transmission of COVID-19 increases with the increasing workload, residents can provide adequate ventilation with outdoor air circulation that can help reduce the concentration of viral contaminants. A stuffy room with poor air circulation, on the other hand, can accumulate and suspend viruses and other pathogens in the air for a much longer period of time. “Natural ventilation is a low-cost environmental control measure that is suitable for many different areas in healthcare settings,” the study says. He added: “People are much more likely to get infected in a room with windows that cannot be opened or without a ventilation system.”
“There is a need for more emphasis on ventilation, as the smallest airborne particles can stay suspended in the air for hours, and these are an important transmission route,” the study said. BMJ.
According to study lead authors Julian Tang of the University of Leicester and Linsey Marr of Virginia Tech, allowing windows to open and letting outside air enter confined spaces can help disperse viral droplets into air suspensions that cause COVID -19. The authors noted that there was confusion around the clarity of “droplet” or “airborne” transmission. “Essentially, if you can inhale particles, regardless of their size or name, you are breathing aerosols,” the lead researchers said. It can even happen at a long distance, they said, adding that when he is close to someone he is more likely to inhale airborne particles because aerosols could be much more concentrated at short distance. “Despite this, the role of aerosol transmission receives only cursory mention in some infection control guidelines,” they said.
“Changing the ambient air is a widely used measure for infection prevention and control,” separately recommends Stephen Morse, an infectious disease researcher and professor of epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. “It replaces any air contaminated with a virus with clean air.”
Support the WHO recommendation
Opening windows for adequate ventilation could be an important measure to control the spread of COVID-19, experts have suggested. They also supported the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation at the onset of the pandemic that good indoor ventilation improves indoor air quality (IAQ), reducing the risk of the spread of COVID- 19. This overlooked measure is also important to curb the spread especially in healthcare facilities, non-residential and residential settings whenever a person is under home care or home quarantine.
(Image credit: Unsplash)
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