As the government continues to raise awareness on different measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 such as wearing face masks, washing hands, social distancing and going more for open spaces, the latter’s importance needs to be stressed.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Covid-19 transmission is particularly effective in crowded, confined indoor spaces with poor or no ventilation, therefore, ensuring adequate ventilation may reduce the risk of Covid-19 infection.
Growing evidence suggests that allowing air to circulate around enclosed spaces can help reduce the risk of infection by 70 per cent.
Dr. Menelas Nkeshimana in an interview with The New Times said, "When someone coughs, sneezes or talks and they emit huge volumes of these particles, which find their way into the people around, especially those without a mask or who are not wearing them properly.
Catherine Noakes, Professor at Leeds University, says that: "When a room does not have any fresh air, and where people are generating large amounts of aerosol through activities such as singing and loud speech, that is when transmission of coronavirus is most likely.”
WHO has released a document on the necessity to adopt good ventilation as one of the measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 infected particles.
The general purpose of ventilation in buildings is to ensure that air in the building is healthy for breathing.
In this time when many are working from home as one of the guidelines previously given by the government, and students on holidays, patients in Home Based Care (HBC), workplaces and other residential buildings, it is highly advised to keep windows and doors open.
Research advises those using indoor fans to direct the airflow of the fan so that it does not blow directly from one person to another to reduce transmission of airborne.
To operate a bathroom fan when the bathroom is in use and continuously, if possible.
Although opening windows could help avoid spreading the coronavirus, experts stress that no single measure can guarantee protection.