The government is encouraging people to keep their homes well ventilated during the winter.
The guidance is part of a new public information campaign launched to highlight how letting fresh air into indoor spaces can reduce the risk of infection from coronavirus by over 70 per cent.
As we spend more time indoors, experts are recommending that the public open windows for short, sharp bursts of 10-15 minutes regularly throughout the day, or leave windows open a small amount continuously, to remove any infected particles lingering in the room.
It's also advised that any household systems that use outdoor air, including kitchen or bathroom extractor fans, are used correctly and regularly as an additional method to remove infected particles.
The campaign, which forms part of wider ‘Hands. Face. Space’ guidance, sees the release of a new short film created with scientists and an engineer at Leeds University.
The new film illustrates how coronavirus lingers in spaces with no fresh air, increasing the risk of people breathing in infected particles, and how the risk can be reduced significantly by regularly ventilating enclosed areas.
The government says airing indoor spaces is particularly important when:
- People have visitors (when permitted) or tradespeople in their home, for example for construction or emergencies;
- Someone from a support bubble is meeting with another household indoors;
- A care worker is seeing a patient indoors; or
- If someone in the household has the virus, as this can help prevent transmission to other household members
Professor Catherine Noakes, from Leeds University who advised on the film, said : “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.
"Fresh air must come from outdoors - recirculating air just means the aerosols containing the virus move around the same room rather than being extracted outdoors.
“Ventilation units or any household systems that use outdoor air can be just as effective as opening windows or doors as long as they are limiting the recirculation of the same air.”
Coronavirus is spread through the air by droplets and smaller particles (known as aerosols ) that are exhaled from the nose and mouth of an infected person as they breathe, speak or cough. They behave in a similar way to smoke but are invisible.
The majority of virus transmissions happen indoors, the government says. Being indoors, with no fresh air, the particles can remain suspended in the air for hours and build up over time.
The longer people spend in the same room as these particles, the more likely they are to become infected.
GP, Dr Amir Khan said: “As we approach winter, and inevitably spend more time indoors, fresh air is extremely beneficial. For COVID-19, it is important to ventilate indoor spaces if someone in your home has the virus as this can help prevent transmission to other household members.
“You should also let fresh air into your home when you have any visitors and just after they leave in case they are infected.
"Remember, opening windows alongside washing your hands, covering your face and making space is also essential in reducing your risk of COVID-19.”
