Page 101 - Covid 2021 June 2021

4. Related to Indoor Air and COVID-19 Disease
Q. Will running an evaporative cooler help protect my family and me from COVID-19?
A. Evaporative coolers (or “swamp coolers”) can help protect people indoors from the airborne transmission of COVID-19 because they increase ventilation with outside air to cool indoor spaces. Evaporative coolers are used in dry climates. They use water to provide cooling and improve relative humidity in indoor microenvironments. When operating as intended (with open windows), these devices produce substantial increases in ventilation with outdoor air. Some evaporative coolers can be performed without using water when temperatures are milder to increase ventilation indoors. Avoid using evaporative coolers if air pollution outside is high and the system does not have a high-efficiency filter.
Q. Is ventilation important for indoor air quality when cleaning and/or sanitising for COVID-19 indoors?
A. When cleaning and disinfecting for COVID-19, ventilation is essential—in general, increasing ventilation during and after cleaning help to reduce exposure to cleaning and disinfection products and byproducts. Increasing ventilation, for example, by opening windows or doors, can also reduce risks from particles resuspended during cleaning, including those potentially carrying SARS-CoV-2 (or other contaminants). Avoid ventilation with outdoor air when outdoor air pollution is high or when it makes your home too cold, hot, or humid.
Q. Will an air cleaner or air purifier help protect my family and me from COVID-19 in my home?
A. When appropriately used, air purifiers can help reduce airborne contaminants, including viruses, in a home or confined space.
Q. How can I increase ventilation at home to help protect my family from COVID-19?
A. Ensuring proper ventilation with outside air is a standard best practice for improving indoor air quality. To increase ventilation in your home, one can:
• Open the windows or screened doors, if possible
• Operate an air conditioner that has an outdoor air intake or vent
• Operate a bathroom fan when the bathroom is in use and continuously, if possible
However, by themselves, the practices mentioned above are not enough to protect people from COVID-19. When used along with other best practices recommended by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India, the above methods can be part of a plan to protect yourself and your family.
(Source: https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus/indoor-air-and-coronavirus-covid-19) ***
VIGYAN PRASAR
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