A three-pronged time-tested non-pharmaceutical interventions-- distancing of six feet, universal mask-wearing, and increased room ventilation—along with vaccinations can reduce Covid-19 spread by 98 per cent, according to a study published in the journal Indoor Air.
Researchers noted that the three-pronged strategy can be applied in combination with vaccinations for most effective results.
“Since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the public has been inundated with precautions that could help to avoid catching the virus,” said the researchers.
Newly released research from US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory said that three measures can cut down transmission of airborne pathogens like SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, by more than 98 percent in more than 95 percent of scenarios examined.
“Wide adoption of layered controls dramatically reduces exposure to existing airborne viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2, and will be critical to control outbreaks of novel airborne viruses in the future,” said Laura Fierce, an atmospheric scientist at DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. “These non-pharmaceutical interventions can be applied in combination with vaccinations.”
For some respiratory infections such as COVID-19, a low building ventilation rate worsens both long- and short-range airborne transmission. Policy makers in public health should target indoor environments with insufficient ventilation by either mandating improved ventilation or setting a maximum occupancy when the total ventilation supply is fixed.
Indo-Swiss Building Energy Efficiency Project (BEEP) India director Dr. Sameer Maithel agreed that ventilation should be considered as one strategy which provides the best protection against infection while adequate masks can reduce a person’s exposure to viral particles by 95%. He said that various projects with support of the State Governments are being undertaken across the country incorporating eco and health-friendly ‘Indo-Swiss energy efficient building technology’. It not only helps in reducing temperature by not less than 3 to 5 degrees inside the houses compared to the outside temperature but also ensures adequate natural ventilation and day lighting potential, minimum 20% electricity savings and safe and healthier environment in building to keep virus at bay.