A new study on CO2 levels indoors vs. infection rates

[solarbird]

An interesting new paper out modelling COVID-19 infection rates – using long-established models – against carbon-dioxide readings taken within a space, assuming one infected person and four non-infected people, across time.

This study does not consider vaccination, which I think is probably a good idea given what it’s doing. But the short form is: according to what we know about this kind of modelling, what they consider well-ventilated works and by itself should be enough to take R0 below 1 for hospitalised patients without masks at all.

That doesn’t mean no infections at all, but it does mean a continually declining infection rate, as one case produces less than one infections.

Now, what they consider “well ventilated” is pretty aggro – it’s even more than I maintain here, and I have built what is considered by HVAC standards to be excellent ventilation. But they also aren’t taking filtering into account – this is just air-exchange, and doesn’t include filtration, just like it doesn’t include vaccination. It’s just raw use of CO2 as a proxy for everything else.

Plus it’s a bloody hospital setting, they can do it if they want. And they should very much want.

Anyway, what all this comes down to is: air exchange works. We also already know air filtration works. If we actually want to finish off COVID, the way to do it without getting a fascist insurgency is air exchange and filtration.

Apropos of everything, here’s another link to my air-exchange-based HVAC assistance project on github. There’s reasons I do this. Just saying.

Posted via Solarbird{y|z|yz}, Collected.

Comments

[kathmandu]

If I ever get to have a place where I can set up HVAC to my own specifications, I will look up your project. Or if someone I know asks for advice.

And yes, greatly improved indoor-air quality is what I'm rooting for, and applying pressure where I can.

[solarbird]

Yeah, it's one of those things that's actually doable. Not trivial. But doable.

[rialian]

Due to being in West Virginia, and not getting customers if I force masks....I have been using CR boxes and ventilation. (The cleanair kits that use computer fans are really doing well and are not intrusive sound-wise)

(I am still wearing my Flo mask..others can feel free to play dice with covid, I prefer to improve my odds a bit...)

[solarbird]

Every part of that helps.