As you likely have already heard by now, Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, foresees a long delay before “life as usual” returns for us here in Canada.
With a health care system hard hit by emergency needs and no vaccine to protect people from COVID-19, it is hard to justify a less restrictive forecast. Even so, this can be hard news to fully absorb and accept.
The truth is, daily life as we know it has been interrupted for the unforeseeable future. Even though health officials are making predictions, no one truly knows what is ahead.
But there are some helpful things we do know now, like how we can stay safer at home and protect our vulnerable loved ones.
First, we must do everything we can to keep our immune system strong. Second, we must set up our daily environment to minimize risk.
Thanks to dedicated frontline health care workers, scientific researchers, building engineers and indoor air quality experts, we do know exactly what to do to achieve this second goal without waiting.
In this post, learn exactly what you need to do to make your home as coronavirus-unfriendly as possible.
Airborne Coronavirus Particles Must Be Stopped at Your Door
It can be a hard reality to adapt to – knowing that every single time you leave your house, you may return home carrying some very unwelcome microscopic visitors with you.
Of course, there are some protective measures you can take right away, before you even set foot inside your house.
We are following these steps as well and highly recommend that you give them a try.
- Remove your mask and/or gloves and discard them immediately.
- Remove your shoes at the door, wipe them down and leave them outside to dry.
- Disinfect all personal items such as purses and bags before bringing them inside.
- Remove your clothing and launder everything immediately in hot water.
- Take a shower in warm water and soap and wash your hair.
As we’ve been talking about in recent blog posts here, these steps are critical because the coronavirus cannot remain viable in the presence of heat and humidity. The virus starts to break down quicker under hot, humid conditions.
In fact, in a recent Live Science article, scientists made some surprising findings about how and where COVID-19 outbreaks have been mild to minimal.
Less than 6 percent of total COVID-19 cases worldwide have occurred in areas with sustained temperatures of 18°C (64.4°F) or higher and relative humidity of 50 percent or higher!
As we well know, these climate conditions are not common here in Canada, which can serve up brutal extended winters that are bitterly cold and not at all humid.
But just because the outdoor weather is not complying does not mean you can’t create a consistently coronavirus-unfriendly microclimate in your home!
“Healthy Building” Steps to Make Your Home Coronavirus-Unfriendly
As a complement to removing and disinfecting any potentially contaminated items of apparel and immediately bathing when you get home, you can take these additional steps to make your home a very unfriendly place for coronavirus.
As Canadian Consulting Engineer Magazine states, “healthy buildings” are part of the solution that could potentially stop the spread of COVID-19.
How can you make your home a healthy building? These are the four steps we recommend that you take immediately.
Step 1: Do your best not to bring the coronavirus into your home
By following the steps we outlined earlier here, you can prevent unknowingly carrying the coronavirus inside your home on your skin, hair, shoes or clothing.
By leaving all the supplies you need to do a thorough disinfection right near the doors of your home, it will be easier to remember to stop and take all safety precautions before entering your home.
Step 2: Improve your in-home ventilation system to exhaust stale air continuously
This step is especially important once anyone in your family becomes ill, even if the illness is not COVID-19.
You simply must keep your immune system as strong as possible.
Upgrading your in-home air ventilation system is the best way to send any circulating toxins, bacteria, viruses, mould or mildew and other contaminants back outside quickly, where they can disperse and cause no further harm.
Heat recovery ventilation is one of the best ways to ensure continual, safe, in-home ventilation.
Step 3: Purify your indoor air supply with ultraviolet light
The most protective air purification method available today is called UVGI, or ultraviolet germicidal irradiation.
This type of air purification system uses short-wave ultraviolet band C light (band C is the most powerful band of natural ultraviolet light) to irradiate the air and destroy toxins.
UVGI purification systems are now recommended for use in all medical and laboratory facilities. The technology is also available for residential use in many areas.
For homes with central (ducted) HVAC systems, whole-home air purifiers are the best choice. Portable models also exist for homes that lack ductwork.
Step 4: Filter out toxins with HEPA filtration
HEPA stands for high efficiency particulate air. HEPA filtration is a higher grade of air filtration than the filters inside the N95 protective masks that frontline health care workers and high-risk people are now wearing.
HEPA filtration systems are standard for use in medical facilities and laboratories around the world. Luckily, the same basic technology is available for residential use as well.
For homes with central (ducted) HVAC systems, whole-home HEPA filtration systems are the best choice. Portable models also exist for homes that lack ductwork.
Get in Touch
Are you concerned that your indoor space at home or work may be a haven for coronavirus particles?
This is a legitimate concern, but fortunately, we now know a lot more about how to make your personal space as safe and virus-free as possible.
Give us a call at 905-549-2470 or visit us online.
