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Recent news on COVID-19 airborne threat

Until now, there have been conflicting messages related to the risk of the airborne transmission of COVID-19. A group of 239 scientists in 32 countries have published their open letter to global health community to present the evidence.

In their letter, the highly qualified group state:

  • Multiple studies “have demonstrated beyond any reasonable doubt that viruses are released during exhalation, talking, and coughing in microdoplets small enough to remain aloft in the air”.
  • These microdroplets “pose a risk of exposure at distances beyond [3 to 6 feet] from an infected individual”.
  • “we are advocating for the use of preventive measures to mitigate this route of airborne transmission.”

Read the full text of the letter: It is Time to Address Airborne Transmission of COVID-19

What we know about COVID-19

As discussed above, the highly qualified group of 239 scientists highlight in their open letter that multiple studies:

“have demonstrated beyond any reasonable doubt that viruses are released during exhalation, talking, and coughing in microdoplets small enough to remain aloft in the air”

Surfaces and COVID-19

While it’s believed that COVID-19 spreads from person-to-person contact, officials haven’t ruled out surface contact as a potential source of contagion. It’s just too early to tell.

In fact, recent tests on the coronavirus COVID-19 showed it can stay active on various surfaces. Researchers found viable coronavirus samples could live for up to:

  • 24 hours on cardboard
  • four hours on copper surfaces
  • two to three days on plastic and stainless steel.

During tests, the researchers also found the coronavirus could be detected in the air up to three hours after emission, making it vital that people clean the air.

The importance of cleaning

While the majority of COVID-19 cases are derived from person-to-person contact, we can’t overemphasize the importance of proper room cleaning.

So, while many people have stressing surface and hand cleaning, the addition of cleaning the air will undoubtedly help manage enclosed spaces. AeraMax Professional’s four-stage system, with True HEPA filtration, can effectively and efficiently build on the hand and surface cleaning routines.

Where AeraMax Professional can help

We do know that AeraMax Professional air purifiers can mitigate additional pathogens in the air where people are infected, removing pollutants from air and reducing risks for people already infected.

AeraMax Professional air purifiers:

  • are certified to be effective in reducing airborne concentrations of influenza A (H1N1) aerosol in a test chamber, reaching 99.9% airborne virus reduction within the first 35 minutes of operation.
  • are certified to capture 99.97% of pollutants at 0.3 microns
  • can capture more than 97.8% of pollutants at 0.1-0.15 microns, via IBR Laboratories test data.

What’s more, an AeraMax Professional III with PureView Technology can sense when airborne contamination is present in a room, automatically adjusting cleaning to remove the offending particles from the air. This is ideal for places like assisted living facilities, where residents already have compromised immune and respiratory systems.

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FACT: No air purifier can stop the COVID-19 coronavirus. 

While AeraMax Professional air purifiers are highly effective at removing various viruses and airborne pollutants from enclosed spaces, NO AIR PURIFIER CAN CURRENTLY CLAIM TO CAPTURE AND ELIMINATE COVID-19—it is simply too early to know. Still, AeraMax Professional air purifiers should be considered as part of a broader proactive hygiene strategy.

What we know about COVID-19

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):

“It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.”

It’s primarily believed the majority of cases are contracted by person-to-person spread. That means a person who is infected can infect another person in close contact (about 6 feet or less) by sneezing or coughing. Respiratory droplets can then land on the mouths and/or noses of uninfected people close by.

Surfaces and COVID-19

While it’s believed that COVID-19 spreads from person-to-person contact, officials haven’t ruled out surface contact as a potential source of contagion. It’s just too early to tell.

In fact, recent tests on the coronavirus COVID-19 showed it can stay active on various surfaces. Researchers found viable coronavirus samples could live for up to:

  • 24 hours on cardboard
  • four hours on copper surfaces
  • two to three days on plastic and stainless steel.

During tests, the researchers also found the coronavirus could be detected in the air up to three hours after emission, making it vital that people clean the air.

Similarities to other viruses

Some researchers in South Korea have found genetic similarities between COVID-19 and the SARS virus; This offers hope that AeraMax Professional air purifiers can be deployed in the battle to stop the spread of COVID-19, as AeraMax Professional is able to capture the SARS virus using its four-stage filtration system. However, we don’t currently know the size of COVID-19 particles, so this is, at this time, speculation.  

The importance of cleaning

While the majority of COVID-19 cases are derived from person-to-person contact, we can’t overemphasize the importance of proper room cleaning.

So, while many people have stressing surface and hand cleaning, the addition of cleaning the air will undoubtedly help manage enclosed spaces. AeraMax Professional’s four-stage system, with True HEPA filtration, can effectively and efficiently build on the hand and surface cleaning routines.

Where AeraMax Professional can help

We do know that AeraMax Professional air purifiers can mitigate additional pathogens in the air where people are infected, removing pollutants from air and reducing risks for people already infected.

AeraMax Professional air purifiers:

  • are certified to be effective in reducing airborne concentrations of influenza A (H1N1) aerosol in a test chamber, reaching 99.9% airborne virus reduction within the first 35 minutes of operation.
  • are certified to capture 99.97% of pollutants at 0.3 microns
  • can capture more than 97.8% of pollutants at 0.1-0.15 microns, via IBR Laboratories test data.

What’s more, an AeraMax Professional III with PureView Technology can sense when airborne contamination is present in a room, automatically adjusting cleaning to remove the offending particles from the air. This is ideal for places like assisted living facilities, where residents already have compromised immune and respiratory systems.

Moving forward

The situation regarding COVID-19 is fluid, with new information reshaping the landscape almost daily. As more information becomes available, we will include it so you are armed with decision-making power.

For more information visit:

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/transmission.html

Compiled with publicly available information as of March 11, 2020. 

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Making the air cleaner in classrooms provides numerous benefits, including reduced absenteeism, increased productivity, more suitable environments for students with allergies and asthma and, perhaps most importantly, limiting the spread of the influenza virus.

Minimizing the harmful effects of flu season is particularly important in schools, as preventing the virus from spreading can reduce sick days, so students aren’t missing out on valuable classroom time. Currently, the flu alone is responsible for 38 million missed days of school – that’s not to mention the additional 22 million missed days caused by the common cold.

A wide range of research has correlated absenteeism to reduced academic performance. Despite the fact that the flu is a significant contributor to absences, flu cases have not declined in 12 years, even though prevention efforts have increased. This is partially because the efficacy of the flu vaccine varies from year to year, but also likely has to do with a lack of education about how the virus spreads and reliance on traditional prevention methods.

“Washing hands really is wonderful for preventing many diseases, such as the common cold, but it’s not very helpful to prevent influenza,” Arthur Reingold, Professor of Epidemiology at the University of California-Berkeley, told CNN. “Everyone’s eager to promote hand washing, and certainly it won’t do any harm, but to rely on hand washing as a way to prevent influenza is a serious mistake.”

As researchers learn more about airborne flu transmission, it becomes increasingly apparent that air filtration is integral to advancing prevention methods.

Creating cleaner classrooms

Commercial-grade air purifiers are specifically designed for common areas, which in schools can include classrooms, labs, locker rooms and washrooms. These units not only make the air cleaner, but also provide a targeted complement to HVAC systems. Independent research has found that AeraMax Professional effectively removes 99.9 percent of airborne influenza particles in as little as 35 minutes.

To learn more about flu prevention, download AeraMax Professional’s special report highlighting the dramatic costs of flu season.

 

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