[Thread] So why does ventilation matter so much in #Covid19 suppression?

Covid-19 is a disease caught by inhaling virus particles in the air 1/
the closer you are to an infected person & the longer you spend, the higher the risk of inhaling infected air

Shouting, singing & exercising make it worse

[there’s very low risk of catching it from surfaces, early research was over-stated & hasn’t been repeated in labs] 2/
outdoors the virus is diluted & dispersed in the air, so the risks are very low (except up close conversation)

If we all lived outdoors there would be no pandemic, as the virus couldn’t reproduce enough, & would die out 3/
the problem is buildings, we only have pandemic because certain indoor conditions allow virus to reproduce A LOT

high-risk conditions are closed spaces where virus builds up like cigarette smoke & can’t disperse
*worse in low humidity
*worse without masks
*worse in crowds 4/
ventilation in buildings isn’t accidental.. it’s designed & measurable

in Northern Europe temperate climates most are ventilated ‘naturally’ with windows & wall vents

some are ‘mechanically’ ventilated with ducts & fans

& some air-conditioned, to cool air & remove moisture
most buildings are low risk

some are higher risk in cold seasons ..& can be safer with lower occupancy ..&/or more ventilation/ filtration/ humidity ..& shorter times

some are very high-risk ..& need very low occupancy & re-engineering

but... it’s all measurable & fixable 6/
so, a pandemic can be suppressed by making ‘indoor air’ as clean as ‘outdoor air’

high-risk places are family homes, cars, nursing homes, overcrowded housing, schools, meat plants, pubs, restaurants, gyms, public transport

or anywhere there’s close contact in closed spaces 7/
air ventilation & filtration
*can start immediately
*is low cost/free & very low tech
*doesn’t need a vaccine
*suppresses all airborne disease incl flu, TB, Covid19, mink mutations & future pandemics
*is healthier for everyone
* is all scientifically evidenced & measurable 8/
*all of this thread is evidenced by current international Covid19 research & evidence

Public health advice hasn’t kept pace, or engaged with the environmental sciences
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