Patient/caregiver was educated on measures to improve ventilation in home for COVID-19 as follows:
- Good ventilation with adequate airflow in the house can help dissipate disease causing virus in the air around, thus preventing the virus particles from accumulating in the home.
- Ventilation, along with compliance with other measures, such as, maintaining social distance of at least 6 feet apart from others, wearing masks, and use of other personal protective equipment can help prevent an individual from getting infected with COVID-19 and spreading the same for others around.
- The following measures may be adopted to improve the ventilation standards of dwellings, which can contribute to lowering risk for COVID-19 infection.
- Make sure the air filters around the house fit in properly and are in good working condition. The arrow on the filter typically should face the unit. Replace the air filters timely or as recommended by manufacturer.
- Individuals living in dwellings that have alternatives to HVAC units, such as, ductless air-conditioning, portable air-conditioning, heat pumps, etc., could consider using an air cleaner. Portable high-efficiency particulate air cleaners (HEPA cleaners) are currently available that trap particles in the air around and contribute to cleaning of air. Use of a HEPA cleaner can help trapping of viral particles disseminated into the air around, if any, by the residents during activities of breathing, coughing, sneezing, and talking. Consult a specialist with details of the area of the house/room the HEPA cleaner you are planning to install is to serve. Cleaning of air around with trapped viral particles can reduce the risk of residents inhaling the viral particles, thus contributing to controlling transmission of the viral disease.
- Turn on the ceiling fan and window exhaust fans in the living room and bedrooms, especially when you have visitors and more occupants/visitors in the house. Turning the ceiling fan on can help promote air flow inside the room. Having the window exhaust fan on, close to an open window and blowing outside helps get rid of virus particles inside the home, if any. Also, turn on the exhaust fans in the restrooms and kitchen stovetops, while in use and when you have too many occupants/visitors in the house. Always have fans pointing away from people, as it can help blowing contaminated air away from them, thus reducing the chance of breathing the contaminated air along with the risk for transmission of viral disease. Continue having the fans on for an hour or two after the visitors leave. Use of the fans can help promote overall air flow, vent the air outdoors, and blow the viral particles out, if any. Cleaning of air around free of viral particles can reduce the risk of occupants inhaling them, thus contributing to controlling transmission of the viral disease.
