Information on COVID-19 virus keeps evolving, but the fear to contract it continues to be unchartered territory for many people. In the early months of the pandemic several reports and studies showed that COVID-19 virus could live on plastic and steel surfaces for up to three days. This caused many people to disinfect and clean everything, and many cleaning supplies were sold out. Since then, newer research evidence has shown that person-to-person through respiratory droplets transmission is the primary source of infection. Respiratory droplets can land on hands, objects or surfaces around the person when they cough or talk, and people can then become infected with COVID-19 from touching hands, objects or surfaces with droplets and then touching their eyes, nose, or mouth. According to a microbiologist and infectologists, in addition to cleaning, homeowners and facility managers need to pay more attention to improving the quality of air in homes and public buildings including schools, churches and workplaces.

A a microbiologists at New Jersey Medical School, argue that early studies underestimated the amount of virus that could actually be found on surfaces in the real world. It is believed that a complete plan of attack against the corona virus should include not only cleaning and disinfecting but also frequent hand washing and an examination of homes/buildings ventilation systems.

Many studies conducted by scientists on the spread of other viruses, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and influenza, show that viable airborne viruses can be exhaled and/or detected in the indoor environment of infected patients. This viruses are released during exhalation, talking, and coughing in micro droplets small enough to remain aloft in air and pose a risk of exposure at distances beyond 6’from an infected individual. Several retrospective studies conducted after the SARS-CoV-1 epidemic demonstrated that airborne transmission was the most likely mechanism explaining the spatial pattern of infections.

In particular, a study in their review of records from a Chinese restaurant, observed no evidence of direct or indirect contact between the three parties. In their review of video records from the restaurant, they observed no evidence of direct or indirect contact between the three parties.

This poses the risk that people sharing such environments can potentially inhale these viruses, resulting in infection and disease. There is every reason to expect that SARS-CoV-2 behaves similarly, and that transmission via airborne micro droplets is an important pathway.

There are studies which show the way pollutants and infectious diseases spread in indoor spaces. According to some studies there needs to be control of the source of the contaminants, which are mainly infectious people. They advise that in order to control the release of the virus, one should wear a mask, and wash hands often. However, some of the virus can potentially get into the environment, and then you have to clean the environment. Best way to do that is the filtration and ventilation.

We hope that U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) will have a clearer guidance on preventing airborne transmission soon.

Based on all of the available researches’ that we have read thus far, we believe that ventilation systems should be improved as part of a living or working spaces regular maintenance and with corona virus that should be enhanced.

Air Duct System Maintenance Tips

Keep your home or facility’s surfaces clean and disinfected to protect occupants from COVID-19, but remember the SARS-CoV-2 virus is also spread through the air. Proper care and maintenance of HVAC systems is beneficial in stopping airborne spread of the corona virus.

Here are few tips to keep up cleanliness of the indoor air and air conditioning systems in your living or work space:

  • Consider getting you entire air duct system professional cleaning, that includes an application of disinfection of the system. This will have your system cleaned but also will kill viruses as they pass through the air duct system.
  • Increase the filtration on your air conditioning system to catch smaller particles. Check the minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) on your filters to determine their effectiveness. MERV values range from 1 to 16, with higher values corresponding to a greater percentage of particles captured on each pass.
  • Increase the amount of fresh air coming into the home to at least 15% fresh air and 85% recycled air.
  • Look into Safe Air+ disinfection unit, which is equipped with P²D Filtering Technology and neutralize Airborne viruses and pathogens. Safe Air provides high level of filtering ambient air in enclosed areas. It removes dust particles, hair, particles as small as 0.10 microns, and Cold Plasma Ionizer Purification eliminates particles as small as 0.01 microns. Activated Carbon filter eliminates odors and Ozone generated by Cold Plasma Ionizer, which reduces unwanted microbes, such as bacteria and viruses in the air. This air purifier is designed to fight with airborne viruses.

 

To schedule professional cleaning of your entire air duct system call us at (847) 264-4946.