Air purifiers help reduce the risk of virus transmission

The pandemic experts agree with what we at UPHE have been saying: Air purifiers help reduce the risk of virus transmission, including COVID-19. We have been asked by many people what kind of purifier to get. This Washington Post article helps explain what to look for:

The science is pretty clear. Portables with a high-efficiency HEPA filter and sized for the appropriate room can capture 99.97 percent of airborne particles.

In a typical home, it may take two to three hours for the air to be exchanged. Using an air purifier can boost that exchange rate up to six exchanges per hour — cleaning the air about every 10 minutes.

Don’t let your guard down. A purifier may lower the level of particles in the air, but it doesn’t eliminate the risk.

Read full article here.

The article doesn’t even address the other enormous benefit of an air purifier, i.e. reducing pollution. Reducing your air pollution exposure, even in the short term, improves your chance of avoiding a serious outcome. That will become all the more important this winter.

UPHE has been calling for air purifiers in every classroom since before the pandemic. They’re not that expensive. It may make the difference between being able to keep schools open and not. There is no excuse for the state and school districts to keep ignoring this.