Over the past weeks, the Philippines breached the 2,000,000-mark of those who have been infected with COVID-19, and COVID Referral Centers like the Philippine General Hospital has announced it will halt accepting non-COVID-19 patients to open more beds with the rising cases, including that of the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant.
In light of this situation, the Department of Health (DOH) further emphasized the strengthening of efforts to combat the local transmission through the implementation of stricter border control measures at the local level and augmenting the country’s healthcare capacity. It has repeatedly stressed that the best defense against any COVID-19 variant is still the correct and consistent adherence to the minimum public health standards and getting vaccinated as soon as possible.
As the country continues to slowly open the economy to jumpstart recovery, and as more and more people find themselves vaccinated against COVID-19, they will begin to venture outside their homes thus increasing their risk of exposure and the possibility of infecting someone.
Many will find themselves in offices, malls, and other indoor spaces where particles from an infected person can move around an entire room or indoor space and can even linger in the air after the infected person has left. This was stated in an article published by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), further mentioning that the COVID-19 can remain airborne for hours in some cases, especially in enclosed, poorly ventilated areas.
The EPA article further stated that although improvements to ventilation and air cleaning cannot on their own eliminate the risk of airborne transmission, the agency recommends increasing ventilation with outdoor air and air filtration as important components of a larger strategy aside from the adherence to safety protocols like the wearing of masks, physical distancing, especially in poorly ventilated areas.
Following are key points to consider for quality air: Operate a window air conditioner that has an outdoor air intake or vent, with the vent open.
When using fans, to help reduce risks of airborne transmission, direct the airflow of the fan so that it does not blow directly from one person to another.
Use a portable air cleaner or air purifier. When used properly, air purifiers can help reduce airborne contaminants, including viruses, in a home or confined space; and place the air cleaner in the room you spend the most time in or where vulnerable people spend the most time.
Open more than one window or door, and practice cross ventilation, opening doors or windows at opposite sides of a home, and keeping internal doors open.
In a quote from renowned epidemiologist Professor Raina Macintyre, an Australian expert in infectious diseases, “People are still stuck in that mindset of hand sanitizer and washing your hands when the actual message we need to be getting out there is it’s the air you breathe.”
To find out more on how one can protect their homes, offices, and other areas against the resurgence of COVID-19, check out www.panasonic.com/ph/nanoe.
