HVAC COVID-19
The coronavirus outbreak has yet to subside even after we approach the second semester of the year. Save for a handful of countries, the majority of the planet’s population is still reeling from the adverse effects of the virus. The world is gradually adjusting to this viral outbreak with nothing but a sliver of a chance at full recovery.
While a lot of us are powering through the pandemic by working from home in the comfort of our air-conditioned rooms, one must ask: are home air-conditioning systems actually spreading COVID-19 instead of filtering it out?
HVAC COVID-19 Case Study
A new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases suggests so. The newly published study discovered that 9 people were infected with HVAC COVID-19 simply by sitting near a coronavirus-positive PUI in a restaurant in Wuhan, China.
This person was discovered to be sitting near the AC unit when he infected everyone in his table and a few others in neighboring tables. Needless to say, this person’s infectious droplets were spread by the AC unit.
However, in the same study, the number of infected cases from that restaurant did not increase beyond that group of people. Obviously, the more people in the room, the more likely air conditioning can play a negative role.
This is why, despite being a crutch to the global economy, the social distancing laws and community quarantines mandated by the world governments are flattening the curve and then some.
Conclusion HVAC COVID-19
In conclusion, while air-conditioners are there to comfort us in the hottest of days, there are clear benefits of sacrificing a day or two of cold air. But, more effective than turning on the AC, is once again to distance oneself from everyone else.
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