Friday, 21 May 2021 | PNS | New Delhi
Principal Scientific Adviser’s office for double masks, cross ventilation indoors
Beware of coronavirus-laden aerosols and droplets. They can move about as far as 10 metres — in case of aerosols — and 2 metres — in case of droplets — to infect you with coronavirus, said a new advisory issued from the Principal Scientific Adviser’s office on Thursday. However, it said the infection can be prevented by wearing masks, double masks or N95 masks, keeping indoor spaces properly ventilated and adhering to other appropriate behaviours such as keeping physical distance and frequent handwashing.
These can reduce the risk of infection even from the more infectious newer strains of SARS-CoV2 virus, it maintained.
Principal Scientific Adviser VijayaRaghavan had just recently warned that a third Covid wave is “inevitable” in near future.
Larger size droplets fall to the ground and on surfaces, and smaller aerosol particles are carried in the air to greater distances, said the advisory with illustrations.
“Saliva and nasal discharge in the form of droplets and aerosols, by an infected person while exhaling, talking, speaking, singing, laughing, coughing or sneezing is the primary mode of virus transmissions. An infected person who shows no symptoms can also transmit the virus. People without symptoms can spread the virus. People should continue wearing masks, double masks or N95 masks,” said the Principal Scientific Adviser’s office.
“Well-ventilated spaces play a crucial role in diluting the Covid-19 viral load of infected air and help in decreasing the risk of transmission from one infected person to the other,” said the advisory titled “Stop the Transmission, Crush the Pandemic — Masks Distance, Sanitation and Ventilation to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus”.
Just as smells can be diluted from the air through opening windows and doors and using exhaust systems, ventilating spaces with improved directional air flow decreases the accumulated viral land in the air, reducing the risk of transmission, the advisory explained.
“Ventilation is a community defense that protects all of us at home or at work. Introducing outdoor air in offices, homes and larger public spaces is advised. Measures to improve ventilation in these spaces must be taken up on urgent priority in urban and rural areas alike, recommendations for hutments, homes, offices and large centralised buildings are given. Simple strategic placement of fans, open windows and doors, even slightly open windows can introduce outdoor air and improve the air quality inside,” it stated.
Introduction of cross ventilation and exhaust fans will be beneficial in curtailing the spread of the disease, it said.
