How can co2 monitors help reduce the risk of covid-19 infection while dining out?

As the number of instances of covid-19 decreases, Our civilization is gradually opening up. Malls are beginning to draw customers, and restaurants are attempting to expand their customer base in order to expand the economy. So, how do we keep ourselves secure from becoming infected with covid-19? Can CO2 monitoring help us avoid becoming infected with Covid-19 in public spaces?

Covid-19 infection is merely caused by an airborne virus. And to wear your mask even when you are alone, specifically inside an enclosed space continues to be advisable. In other words, even if you don’t see anyone, especially in public spaces, for example, public bathrooms, removing your mask can be very risky since these are the places that are often poorly ventilated, filled with erosion toilet plumes when toiled lid isn’t used properly.

In fact, in one recent report by Doctor Ali, bathrooms can deceptively be empty and you thought you’re safe but if someone infected was there before you, it can still be infectious as the airborne virus can remain in the air for quite some time. Since again, this is one enclosed space that is poorly ventilated, seriously, therefore, public bathrooms can be a real risk. So similar to the concept of bathrooms, other enclosed spaces like restaurants schools classrooms, and offices can also therefore be really risky. Why? Because again, one infected person who coughs had a virus airborne that can linger in the air for quite some time, and therefore, simply forget about the outdated six-feet droplet rule. Why? Because we have seen huge super spreading outbreaks from aerosols have been documented. And I, therefore, repeat that covid-19 is definitely airborne and therefore, please when you’re in outside spaces, outside of your homes, don’t try to remove your mask.

Aerosol is distinct from droplets, as we all know. Coronavirus is persistent and stable for many hours, according to aerosol research. We all know that, depending on the ventilation, and air exchange occurs every 20 minutes to 4 hours.

So, if you look attentively at this image, you can see that after 20 minutes, the normal tiny droplet movement throughout the contained space is still visible. In other words, ventilation is essential in any confined place. To put it another way, sufficient ventilation and a mask are required to limit your risk of contracting covid 19 when indoors.

In this common example, after four hours without safety measures and regardless of the safe distance between people, five people will become sick if six people spend four hours together chatting loudly without wearing a mask in a room with no ventilation.

So, what should be done to reduce the risk? If you are in an enclosed environment, appropriate ventilation with fresh air or mechanically is therefore desirable; if you wear a mask, please upgrade to a more premium KN95, KF94, or PPF mask. Also, make sure they fit well enough to cover your chin, nose, and sides of your face.

One thing I usually do in my room is, make sure my windows are open and that I have adequate filters and ultraviolet light to help clean the air of disease-causing viruses.

But one thing I’d want to discuss with you today is the use of CO2 sensors. This is quite beneficial to me, and it is also portable. We all know that CO2 and aerosol levels in the air are related because both are exhaled. As a result, it indirectly offers you an indication of the viral concentration in the air. However, keep in mind that the main source of CO2 indoors is either flames, combustion from a gas fire or a stove, or people exhaling. If CO2 levels are rising, it’s safe to conclude that there are respiratory aerosols present. So CO2 can be used to assess the risk of covid-19 in the air.

This essential graph shows you that a certain number of CO2 in the environment predicts whether you are at risk of getting airborne covid-19 resulting in covid-19 infection. So if you can see here by measuring CO2, if you have a CO2 of around 800 ppm, as long as it’s below 800 ppm preferably below 700 ppm, then this environment is less risky for you to get covid-19. So one way to think about inborn CO2 concentration is to consider the rebreathed fraction, meaning for every 400 parts per million above the baseline, one percent of your air is rebreathed from someone else exhaled air. You actually use the CO2 monitor usually for a short period, simply to check the ventilation in an occupied space and use it to actively manage the ventilation, it is, therefore, important to remember that CO2 is only a guide, the numbers are not exact, and they don’t tell you actual risk from the virus.

So, what happens next? CO2 levels rise when more people are in an enclosed place and fall when ventilation is increased, hence the CO2 monitor’s value indicates ventilation and occupancy. If CO2 levels are less than 800 ppm, for example, ventilation is fine; but, if the CO2 sensor records more than 1500 ppm, ventilation should be addressed.

Remember that while air filters in a room can remove virus particles, they cannot reduce CO2. One advantage of actively managing a room with a CO2 meter is that you can balance ventilation, temperature, and energy. You may find that you only need a small number of windows open on occasion, especially in colder weather. Professor Noakes recommends that you opt for an NDIR sensor when purchasing a monitor because they are more trustworthy. A monitor with temperature and humidity sensors is also beneficial. As a result, we would advise the usage of CO2 sensors.

Is that you can easily get one that is portable and hence transportable to places where you plan to dine out with your family or enjoy the scenery. Remember that the reading on your CO2 monitor offers you an idea of how adequately ventilated the area is and whether you need to leave or can stay because the CO2 monitor indicates that the CO2 level is not dangerous for you to get COvid-19.

Remember that a CO2 level of roughly 400 ppm on your CO2 monitor is equivalent to that of open-air, thus any areas where your CO2 monitor registers more than 800 ppm, I will avoid this location because it signals high aerosol concentration and hence increases my chances of developing covid-19.