suggestions on mandating indoor ventilation

To whom it may concern,

 

I’m a veteran electronics engineer and I’m gravely concerned by the recent resurging cases of the COVID-19. I would like to make some suggestions to help UK to have the virus contained asap.

 

From what I saw, I believe the No.1 reason for the indoor infection cases is the poor ventilation. Here is why:

 

1. Within a closed-space environment, 2m social distance is NOT enough. Actually, even 5m, 10m may still be insufficient to prevent the virus from spreading! This is because in a non-ventilated space the concentration of the virus will continue to rise as long as there is one infected person present in the room. Please note it is not just droplets that carry the COVID-19 – aerosols carry the virus, too! Eventually, other persons in the same room will get infected, even they wear masks!
2. The only practical and effective way to reduce the concentration of the virus below the infectious level is VENTILATION. I read some papers which provided different conclusions on the required FRESH AIR FLOW speed. But my intuition suggests we may not need a very high speed for the fresh air flow, ie, as long as the air is ventilated, the concentration of the virus will be greatly reduced – and very likely to less than the infectious level in most cases.
3. Most conventional air conditioners are doing closed-loop circulation which means no fresh air is let into the space. For such type of AC, their operation could amplify the infection efficiency by magnitudes therefore should not be used!
4. If the AC is equipped with highly effective virus filter or sanitizer, for example, HEPA, then they are helpful in reducing the virus concentration and should be used.
5. Also, if the AC is equipped with fresh air mixer, and the percentage of the fresh air to be mixed in is above ??% (need scientific data here), then they should also be used.
6. In places where both above helpful types of AC are in lack, then the ordinary type of AC should be kept unpowered and the windows MUST BE KEPT OPEN. The window might not need to be opened to a large extent – again this needs research data to validate.
7. On the far end from the opened window, another window should also be kept open. To improve the air flow, an electrical fan can be placed by the far end window, with the blowing direction towards the window (outside).

Above are my suggestions based on the data, news reports, stories I have read, together with my own interference.

As winter is approaching, people tend to stay in room with AC operating, and all windows closed. This is the very worst case for preventing the transmission of the COVID-19. It will not surprise me that if north cities are reporting more and more infected cases.

Hopefully the gov can issue the instruction of mandating the ventilation in all indoor settings. Should you have further questions, I will be more than happy to offer my help.

 

Yours sincerely,