Prof Cath Noakes #Ventilate 😷 💙
@CathNoakes
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Civil Eng Prof at Leeds Uni. infection transmission, ventilation, fluid dynamics, building physics, indoor air, STEM advocate, codeclub, OBE
University of Leeds
Joined November 2012
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I spent 2 years of my life providing endless advice (for free) to this government to help control this horrible virus and they really couldn’t give a f*** could they?
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If you’ve got a really bad cold please stay home from work or school. Even if it’s not covid none of the rest of us want it. And if you do have to go out, wear a mask and keep your distance. Use what we’ve learned to reduce the spread of all respiratory bugs.
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Travel from N Yorkshire to Bristol in a couple of weeks time - £275 train in advance singles, £467 for flexible return, or £48 easyJet from Newcastle in a fraction of the time. This is bonkers. We need to do something differently for sustainability.
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In case you were wondering, the physics of droplets and aerosols hasn’t changed. 2m is still safer than 1m. And the same mitigation applies - ventilate, wear a face covering, wash your hands, clean surfaces, stay apart.
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As a SAGE member I try to give impartial advice based on the best scientific evidence available to supposedly help government make appropriate decisions. It doesn’t mean that I in any way support or condone the actions of ministers or their advisors.
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I see we’re also back to “face coverings for people you don’t normally meet” FFS, YOU CAN CATCH IT FROM A PERSON YOU KNOW
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As well as face masks in shops and transport, it’s also a good idea to wear them in workplaces, schools and other social settings. This idea of only wearing them with people you don’t know is garbage. You’re probably more likely to catch covid from someone you know.
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How many 1000’s of wipes have we used sanitising chairs in vaccination centres after every single person? Open the windows - it’ll have far more benefit than the minuscule risk of getting virus on your bum.
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There really are a heck of a lot of people with covid at the moment. Seems odd considering the pandemic is supposed to be over…
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If we have 4 waves of covid per year, that means a large % of the population will catch it 1-4 times per year. For most that’s going to be 1-4 week off sick per year (and some worse). How are businesses, schools, hospitals factoring this level of absence into future planning?
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One of the biggest benefits of a face mask is that it reduces the amount of virus you breathe into a room if you are infected. Please consider using your “personal choice” to protect other people in case you are infected, especially if you are in crowded places.
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For what it’s worth, time to say again. Cases are high and airborne spread is important. Ventilate your rooms and/or use air cleaners, meet outdoors where you can, good masks indoors especially when ventilation is poor, and stay home when sick. Covid is very much still with us.
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We’ve just gone through a lull where omicron BA.1 declines as BA.2 increases and it makes everything look stable. But it’s a false sense of security. Now BA.2 is rising rapidly in a worrying new wave. Please ventilate, wear masks, stay home if sick and get your vaccine.
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Is it just me or has everyone (in policy) forgotten about pre and asymptomatic infection? Isn’t the whole reason that we have a pandemic rather than a few cases because people pass it on before they show signs? That’s why testing matters so much.
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Remember pre covid when we all caught 3-4 colds a year, occasionally got flu and often felt pretty miserable? What if by improving ventilation and enabling good hand and respiratory hygiene we could reduce all of this? If we get things right we’ll have lots of other benefits too
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I will continue to wear a mask even though they’re imperfect because:
They protect other people
They protect me
The more people who do this, the more we can slow the pandemic for everyone
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Ventilation is one of the best approaches we have for reducing respiratory disease and it’s time to pay attention again as cases of COVID are so high. Here’s some Saturday morning thoughts on what to do now and in the future 1/
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Remember theres no magic bullets. FFP2 mask doesn’t mean you’re safe, opening windows or using air cleaner doesn’t mean you’re safe, testing and vaccines are imperfect. But just because they’re not 100% doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do them. Every bit helps, more layers = lowest risk
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On the face of it both boxes of Fairy Snow from
@ProcterGamble
look pretty much the same. Both XXL and do 65 washes.
But let’s look a little closer 1/
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This is just bonkers. How are we doing this at the same time as allowing New Years parties to go ahead? Indoors, crowded, often poorly ventilated locations with unmasked people are the virus’s dream. And where do we magic the staff for these tents from?
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Some things to remember from Friday. The virus doesn’t know all the rules have gone. It’s still as infectious for as long. It still transmits in the same way. It can still be passed on without symptoms. Ventilation still works. Masks still work. There’s still no magic bullets.
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Covid cases are rising again. Loads of it about at the moment. BA2 variant, waning immunity, lack of measures and more mixing all playing a part. Remember ventilation reduces risk, wearing a good mask can protect you and others, and stay home if you’re sick
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Vaccines work
Testing works
Masks work
Ventilation works
Distancing works
Hand hygiene works
None are 100% effective at reducing transmission, and some like hands may only have a small effect. But every little bit helps so do them all as far as you are able.
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No tomatoes at all in Sainsbury’s. So I bought magnums. Am I doing this food shortage thing right?
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Some infection control measures are enablers rather than restrictions. Good ventilation is one of these. Let’s make 2022 the year we invest in healthy and sustainable ventilation and air cleaning systems to make our environments more infection resilient for the future.
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Why is no one shocked by the numbers anymore? We’ve over 21k in hospital and over 3.5k dying every week. And this will get much worse with the rapid rise in cases. These are real people with families and lives, not just statistics. Please do everything you can to stop this virus.
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London bound, still with a mask. It’s getting harder to avoid the ‘rona, but if I can I will
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Wow, I dared to mention masks and I’ve unleashed all the myths and conspiracies again. It’s amazing!
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Another shrinkflation? Is there science behind the dosing or do they just make up how much we need to use based on how much
@ProcterGamble
think we’re prepared to buy?
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One day we will lose many restrictions needed to control covid. But I hope we learn lessons & keep some:
Good ventilation- matters for health beyond covid
Staying home when sick - why have we tolerated “soldiering on” for so long?
Hand washing - no-brainer, why wouldn’t you?
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Boosters by the end of the month is great, but they’re not 100% effective at reducing infection and take time to kick in. In the meantime we still need to limit contacts, test, mask, ventilate to try and keep omicron at bay
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The virus doesn’t know if you normally meet someone or not. It really doesn’t care. It will infect whether they are friend or foe. Wear a mask regardless.
The UK PM
@BorisJohnson
is in hot water after being pictured unmasked next to 95 year-old David Attenborough. I asked him for his response:
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12 days ago I had a 10 min chat with a friend, about 1m apart, who tested +ve for covid 24 hrs later. I never got covid. Either (a) they weren’t infectious, (b) we weren’t there long enough (c) the masks did their stuff. We’ll never know, but I was glad we were both wearing masks
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I know it’s going colder, but covid is on the way up again and pretty fast so please don’t abandon ventilation. It’s still important if you’re mixing indoors. There’s a few things you can do to improve indoor air without a massive energy bill 1/
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Lots of blame on the covid app for causing people to isolate. Remember every one of those people pinged was in contact with a person with covid. The issue is really high prevalence of the virus. Even vaccinated people can spread it. Stay safe folks, there’s a lot of virus about.
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How many times, THE VIRUS IS NOT NAKED. Its in respiratory particles which are much bigger than the virus. If your mask has big gaps it will have little effect, but a good cloth mask, surgical mask or FFP2 will trap/block a large proportion of particles
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A lot more people having large group events such as dinners, parties, conferences, receptions. First, perhaps we should be scaling some of these back again given the case rates- is the event a good idea? Second a few observations from events I’ve been at or heard about. 1/9
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Another reminder. You are more likely to catch the virus from people you interact closely with - and most of them are people you know. Wear your mask in places where you are with friends, family and colleagues as well as strangers, especially if it’s crowded or poorly ventilated
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On
@BBCRadio4
6pm news today stating that flu is on the rise so “wash your hands”. Have we learned nothing? Yes hands matter but flu spreads in respiratory particles. Avoid breathing each other’s breath by keeping distance, ventilation and if it’s crowded/higher risk use a mask.
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Right, okay…erm not sure we’re following the science… it’s still around, still at 1 in 20 people, still seriously infectious, still pretty unpleasant to catch. I’d keep ventilating and wearing masks folks
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After 2.5 years it got me. I feel rubbish.
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So pleased to see this. Look what's on the official slogan now!!!!
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There is no such thing as a covid safe environment, but you can make it safer. However if you’ve cleaned, sanitised and put in plexiglass but haven’t thought about air, it ain’t going to work. In a space with lots of people ventilation is probably the most important mitigation
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Another reminder, there are no magic bullets. Ventilation measures, masks, tests, vaccines won’t keep you safe. But they will help lower the probability of infection, and if you have the virus will reduce the probability you pass it on. So keep doing these things where you can.
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Teenager has COVID. Today we are mostly going to be ventilating on the off chance that he hasn’t already shared it.
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We have higher cases than the rest of Europe. We have less controls than the rest of Europe. We need measures to stop things getting even worse in the Autumn. Ventilate, distance, wear a mask, wash your hands and don’t go to work/school/the pub if you’re sick. Please.
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Twice in the past 3 days I’ve sat next to someone on a train who has diligently wiped the table on boarding and then spent the whole journey with no mask. 🤷♀️
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Regardless of guidance, if you are attending a carol service or other event with audience singing please try to keep your mask on. Singing has been associated with several outbreaks, and masks will help reduce aerosol emissions.
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Ventilation sceptics, don’t worry, good ventilation and air cleaning won’t make a room sterile. You’ll still breathe a few bugs and may occasionally catch something. And if you’re really worried you could always drink some mucky water to keep your immune system in check…
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I was assaulted along with 2 friends while walking along the street at night 25 years ago. Was asked in court about the short skirt I was wearing, and accused by the defendant of assaulting him as I dared to fight back. Still wary at night - it never leaves you
#ReclaimTheNight
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Here’s a thing. The vaccine efficacy is somewhere around 80%-90%. A well fitting good quality face covering can also be as good as 80% effective. The vaccine is less restrictive, but until we get everyone jabbed, maybe keep wearing the face covering?
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At the vaccine centre you get a 2 page info sheet on the risks of clotting 👍
But absolutely nothing on how long the vaccine takes to work and the need to still follow the rules 👎
Such a missed opportunity to explain transmission to a captive audience in the 15 min wait
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A thread today about windows and ventilation, and some things you can do to make the most of your windows for comfort and infection risk 1/
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Your regular reminder that ventilation (and air cleaning) are not magic bullet solutions. Ventilation won’t mitigate transmission when you are close to someone and the viral emissions are highest. We also need distancing, masks, testing, isolation, vaccines and good hygiene.
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Masks do work but only if we do it right. A scarf isn’t a mask, a bandana isn’t a mask, a jumper pulled up a bit isn’t a mask. Make sure it covers nose and mouth all the time. FFP2/3 will give the most protection, but a well fitting surgical or 3 layer cotton mask is still good.
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We need to think about ventilation and indoor air as seriously as sanitation and clean water. Our perspective calling for a paradigm shift is out in Science
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If you’re finding ventilation tricky or you’ve got a co2 meter and are finding that it doesn’t really go down even with the window open, here’s a few tricks to improve ventilation. 1/
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Please listen to health experts rather than MPs. No one wants face masks forever, but wearing a mask if you have respiratory symptoms and have to leave home can reduce spread of bugs. There’s loads of evidence that they work. It’s common courtesy not a restriction.
Wednesday's Mail: "Let's not return to face mask 'madness'"
#BBCPapers
#TomorrowsPapersToday
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Looks like we’re in for a spell of good weather next week. That means it’s easier to ventilate and easier to meet outdoors. So help tackle the high cases and get some fresh air and the added bonus of vitamin D when you can!
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If you are planning covid measures for your organisation post 1st April, remember that ventilation is an enabler not a restriction. Providing good ventilation and/or using air cleaners for clean air in rooms has so many benefits for health and well-being, not just for covid.
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I should say though that I’ve worked with some amazing civil servants across multiple departments who have really made a difference
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The virus doesn’t discriminate. You need to mitigate risks when with family, friends and colleagues as well as strangers. This includes masks in indoor spaces outside the home. In fact you are probably more likely to catch it from someone you know than from a stranger.
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This one in Manchester art gallery. Nice to see that someone read some of the early advice papers
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Ventilation is critical but can’t compensate for removal of other measures. If there’s no masks, no contact isolation and lots of people in a crowded space without distancing then you’re already on the back foot with delta. Windows and HEPA filters won’t mitigate this alone.
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Very pleased to have joined forces with over 40 other fantastic experts around the world to call for indoor air standards for buildings. 90% of the air we breathe is indoors, and air quality has a massive effect on our health. We need public buildings to look after our health.
Professor
@CathNoakes
from
@LeedsUniEng
has joined forces with scientists from around the globe to call for mandatory indoor air quality standards in public buildings. Experts say social & economic benefits to public health should far outweigh the costs.
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It’s a bit chilly today, but that doesn’t have to mean no ventilation. The colder it is, the smaller the opening you need to get ventilation. So even just cracking a window open, or opening it for a few minutes an hour will help to keep the bugs at bay.
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I’m just wondering, is ventilation woke?
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Ventilation isn’t a substitute for distancing but they do work together. You can’t manage individual close exposure by ventilation, but closer distance = more people in venue, and ventilation is crucial to managing that risk. And distancing without ventilation is false assurance.
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My nephew playing with a toy train set has just announced that the trains don’t have any ventilation 😂
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To do a proper risk assessment you first need to know how the virus spreads. Evidence suggests:
A: inhalation of a wide size range of aerosols (including small <5 micron) at close proximity
B: inhalation of small aerosols that remain suspended in room air at a distance (>2m)
1/
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Just had a conversation with a colleague who met someone who thought the word airborne meant “born in the air”. They’ve been keeping windows closed to keep the virus out. We need to be really careful to explain the words many of us use everyday without thinking about it.
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Shall we have another conversation about the definition of outdoors?
Eager punters at The Oak Inn in Coventry queued from 10pm in the snow to be the first to get their hands on a pint as lockdown restrictions eased in England.
Read more:
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Staying cautious is not cowering, it’s looking after yourself and each other. Please keep making sure places are ventilated, keeping distance, wearing masks, washing hands, staying home when sick or after contact with a covid case and get a vaccine. We can beat this together.
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Here’s a thing. It’s possible to support ventilation and masks AND good hand hygiene and cleaning. You can believe in air AND surfaces. I think they both matter and the relative importance changes with the disease and the setting. And sometimes they’re connected together.
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We have clean air day, world toilet day, world hand hygiene day and even glove awareness week. Can we have international ventilation day? Perhaps in early autumn as a reminder to ventilate as the weather turns? Anyone like to pick a day?
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It’s time for the stuck record tweet. Covid is on the up again, it spreads mainly through the air, so…say after me…ventilate and/or clean the air in your building, stay home when sick, keep your distance, masks work (and hand washing may help a bit too).
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There are behavioural things we can do to minimise damp and mould, but need to remember that cooking, showering and washing & drying clothes are normal activities. A home needs to be designed to cope with these. And people need to have enough money to use heating and vent systems
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Please correct this
@Telegraph
as you are putting out misinformation about the physics of respiratory particles
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Folks this is going the wrong way and even if it’s not leading to increased deaths it’s causing disruption. If you’re out and about, keep on with ventilation, distancing and face coverings. Meet outdoors if you can and most of all get a vaccine.
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This is a worrying sign suggesting long range aerosol spread with a high attack rate. It’s more important than ever that we address ventilation. Ensure systems work, increase flow rates, open windows, add HEPA units especially where ventilation isn’t good enough.
#COVIDisAirborne
This is insane. All 120 people were vaccinated and had neg test before attendance. The index person had returned from SA just before but didn't test positive (with omicron) until couple days after party
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@JeremyFarrar
It is bizarre that we are bracing for something that we know is going to happen rather than acting to prevent it.
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But the scientists who remain puzzled are not those who work on transmission. Yes we still have questions on the frequency, variability and control of long range airborne transmission, but there’s no question that it happens. Ventilate, wear a mask.
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This was unexpected but a really nice surprise and I’m honoured to have been awarded the Gabor medal by the
@royalsociety
. But it should really belong to the huge number of people in the UK and worldwide who have worked so hard to understand the complexity of virus transmission.
The Royal Society has awarded Professor
@CathNoakes
with its highest distinction for interdisciplinary work between life sciences and other specialties.
Professor Noakes has received the 2023 Gabor Medal, for her collaborative efforts to save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Interesting study that associates using HEPA air cleaners with better cognitive performance in a set of standard tests. Some more useful evidence for the benefits of clean air
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Indoors + lots of people + low ventilation + new variant = perfect recipe for new cases.
Get vaccinated, use testing, stay home if you have symptoms, ventilate and keep your fingers crossed for the next few weeks.
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A virus that’s 50% more transmissible could need 50% more ventilation to help control. The risk in a well ventilated building probably remains low, but if your ventilation is lower, chances are it’s no longer enough. Places that were “getting away with it” now need to act.
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If your school, work, library, community centre is naturally ventilated, seriously consider investing in air cleaners for this autumn and winter. Even with higher elec prices they’re likely to be cheaper to run than opening windows and also trying to heat the place. 1/
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Very pleased to see this finally happen. It’s been a long haul and is just the start of the ventilation journey we need to take
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We have a choice over the next few weeks. We can either be cautious and get vaccinated to get cases lower, and fix schools and workplaces to be in a good place for September, or we can party the summer away and be in dire straits just in time for the mass return to work & school
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Everyone ready for the next wave yet? Let’s just hope that summer ventilation and reduced contacts through outdoor interactions manages to suppress things…
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I’m not sure wether this is cute or terrifying…
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Our buildings matter for health and it’s time for a major upgrade to be resilient to disease including future pandemics. Today we announce a new report from
@RAEngNews
and
@CIBSE
on what is needed and why. A 🧵 on what we did: 1/
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@dgurdasani1
Airborne transmission is possible outdoors when people are close together. It’s a reminder that outdoors is safer but not zero risk when you’re interacting closely.
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This is a really good explanation of how an N95 mask works. It’s not just a sieve. And a lot of this also applies to 3 layer cloth and well fitting surgical masks too
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Me and
@DrSDFitzgerald
in a new
@guardian
piece on school ventilation. Basically:
Co2 meters ✅
Windows- get them open ✅
Mech vent ✅
Air cleaners - as long as it’s the right type in the right space ✅
Ozone decontam units ❌
Recirc air con ❌
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As everyone gets excited about low cases, opening up and reducing measures, can we remember we’ve been here before? Low cases last summer became a massive wave by Christmas. Yes vaccines will reduce it, but there’s still a way to go. Please keep doing
#HandsFaceSpaceFreshAir
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This was me 2 years ago. You never know, your niche may turn out to matter….
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I think the mask thing has reached a stage where I’m now an outlier 🤷♀️
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