Lately, a report published in the medical journal Lancet mentioned that the SARS-CoV-2 virus that is responsible for COVID-19 is an airborne pathogen which means that this disease could primarily be transmitted through the air. This has been an alarming finding as to when a COVID positive person coughs or sneezes, they release particles (droplets) containing the virus. While larger droplets fall to the ground, smaller droplets comprising the virus can remain suspended in the air. Further, if someone breathes in the same air, they can get infected with the virus.

In the current scenario, the role of ventilation is indispensable. Ventilation plays a crucial factor in preventing the virus from spreading indoors. Poor ventilation can build up the virus in the room consequently spreading it to more people. While people can resort to natural ventilation methods like opening doors and windows, it is important to ensure that the air is getting circulated continuously.

Below are the ways by which you can improve ventilation in your home:

1. Bring fresh air into your home whenever possible. Open the doors and windows as much as you can to bring in the fresh air. The inflow of fresh outdoor air into your home will help to keep stale air from amassing inside.
2. Turn on exhaust fans in your kitchen and bathroom whenever possible. This can improve airflow and keep contaminated air from being concentrated in one place.
3. Always keep ceiling fans on to help improve airflow in an occupied room.
4. With the summer heat getting intense, cooling your house can be a challenge with the windows and doors kept open. Use a cooling solution like an air cooler as they provide adequate cooling even with open doors and windows. Air coolers also come with multistage air purification filters that can further help in improving indoor air quality.

About the author- Mr. Vijay Joshi, CEO-India, Symphony Ltd