My gaze fell on my air purifier this morning, the unit I bought to keep seasonal wildfire smoke under control in my house. It's the same model as the one in the photo. It uses three filters, one of which is the Hepa type.
That got me wondering whether these appliances were of any use in the Covid-19 contagion. Before you go in search of a purifier, it probably won't do you much good. The Hepa filter is effective against the virus particles.
The virus that causes COVID-19 is approximately 0.125 micron (125 nanometers) in diameter. It falls squarely within the particle-size range that HEPA filters capture with extraordinary efficiency: 0.01 micron (10 nanometers) and above.That doesn't mean it will keep you safe and secure.
But that doesn’t mean an air purifier can protect you. While scientists are still researching how the new coronavirus spreads, the current consensus is that it is not an airborne virus, and that’s the position of both the CDC and other global health agencies. Rather, experts believe that the coronavirus is transmitted by person-to-person contact and by contact with virus-laden droplets expelled by an infected person’s coughing and sneezing. Coughs and sneezes certainly suggest “airborne” to most people, but such droplets travel only about 6 feet before falling out of the air and settling on surfaces. This is one reason health agencies worldwide are recommending 6-foot (2-meter) “social distancing” and related efforts like frequent handwashing and disinfection of surfaces as the primary means of protecting yourself.In other words the Covid-19 infection probably won't happen in your own home. It's an "outside" thing.
Just thought you might want to know.
.. Hey ! Thanks ! That's an easy 'can do'. Will see who has em ! We did grocery run today 11:30 AM, My first off property in 4 days. Food Basics, (zero chicken or pasta) Dollarama (food aisle stripped) and LCBO (no shortages) no surprise. And no crowds, everything seemed normal though we saw social distancing signage etc. The toilet paper insecurity syndrome obvious.. laughable, absurd of course & quite evident. Hey, whatever gets ya through the night.. go big or don't go, I always say
ReplyDeleteHere's a pretty stunning & disheartening article. I'm sure you read it (Tyee) but will drop the link on your readers. We've known for weeks the USA likely to be gold medal winner on the Covid 19 mortality podium, Italy and Spain Silver & Bronze.. Germany hammered and Britain could steal the gold on per capita basis. In my opinion Russia, China, Iran just lie and are burying most of the dead
https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2020/03/20/We-Face-Two-Stark-Choices-COVID-19/
My suggestion.. do not forget Saudi Arabia versus Russia oil war.. China looking on. We could easily see a Russian ultimatum dropped on the Saudis, as the USA collapsing economically & socially in complete meltdown mode. Countries go to war over land, water & ideology (religion) so why not over oil wars. Saudi Arabia punches way over its weight re oil money. One Russian boomer though, could deposit a grim purpose pitch in the middle of the desert right after dark.. right as the phone rings in Sheik Yer Booty's palace.. Putin on the line
I hope Canada can somehow manage to maintain the current astonishing & fortunate levels of infection & mortality, even as the USA implodes then explodes.. goes supernova. Nobody really knows what a population that elected Trump could do in extreme shell shocked mad stampeding & convulsive socio-economic panic. For Trump et al the complete & malignant idiocy of his election, his administration, his corruption & deceit is as nothing compared to his hysterical & historic role as the supreme loser, Ugly American failure. His Presidency is going critical meltdown radioactive. As far as 'Everything Trump Touches Dies' goes.. WoW .. just WoW.. ! Bluster his way out of this with astonishing lies and denials ? With the kind of body count - right out of a science fiction story that will accompany his name.. EVERMORE ?
That's the beauty of a shit show, Sal, you know it won't end well but you have to wait a bit to see how it ends or how many endings it creates.
ReplyDeleteNever have I seen so many issues in play at the same time, some of which may determine the outcome of others.
No one has this sorted. We're more like punch-drunk sailors on the first night of shore leave.
Some very interesting comments on this subject.
ReplyDeletehttps://oilprice.com/Energy/Oil-Prices/The-Inevitable-Outcome-Of-The-Oil-
Price-War.html
China and Russia have the luxury of totalitarian governments to stall the spread of Coronavirus.
The west has spent weeks debating freedom ,liberty and rights not to forget backroom boys figuring how to profit from the situation.
Comments on Oil Price suggest that Putin has outplayed Saudi Arabia and by extension the rest of the oil producing world, with the shale and oil sands oil coming out of this is really bad shape.
Another Oil Price article
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/Oil-God-Andy-Hall-Is-Happy-To-Be-Out-Of-Broken-Market.html
Shows the end times for fossil fuel.
TB
I read the article about the Saudi/Moscow grudge match, TB. If Putin can break Riyadh, solidify the Russia/China/Iran/Syria alliance, he can return the favour from when the US drove the Soviets out of the ME. That, in turn, would help Moscow's gas line into Europe. Nothing was remotely as helpful as a very stable genius in Washington.
ReplyDeleteOil price war outcome, yet to be determined ...
ReplyDelete"Saudi Arabia just won control of the oil market"
https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2020/03/20/perspectives/saudi-arabia-oil-market/index.html
Oil price war outcome, yet to be determined ...
ReplyDeleteThe jury is out on that one.
Putin is much smarter than MBS
TB