April 9, 2020
Social Distancing Alternative with Low Risk and
Modest Cost for Coronavirus Mitigation
Social distancing needs to be redefined as
staying six feet apart of other individuals or
the space they have occupied in the last 60
seconds. This expanded definition creates great
barriers to normal life. The safety of social
distancing can be alternatively provided with a
program which will have comfort and social
acceptance along with affordability. This is now
possible because of new filtration media,
testing, decontamination and other technology
innovations.
It starts with
the fact that a washable highly efficient
mask can be provided.
There are retail stores in China
which
sell nothing but these masks with many
fashionable varieties. With the valve they are
both comfortable and stylish. They are also
washable. These are $30 masks which if worn
60 times would cost $.50 per wearing.
There are less expensive designs available as
well. Chinese companies are also producing
washable N95 masks with and without the valve
feature. Over the last few months the production
has expanded to several million per day. Since
they are washable the cost per wearing is as low
as 10 cents.
The valve feature makes the wearer comfortable
but since breath is discharged unfiltered it
should only be used by people without symptoms.
There have also been improvements in media for
air filters which allow high efficiency capture
at modest pressure drop and cost. Other
innovations involve air flow design in spaces
and decontamination/destruction technology.
Here are the sequential protocols which will
allow people to resume their normal business and
social activities safely
THE SOCIAL DISTANCING ALTERNATIVE
People will not wear an N95 mask with no valve
in comfort. But if healthy people wear masks
with valves they will be protected. If most
people with symptoms wear the N95 masks without
the valve they will not contaminate others.
In fact this approach is orders of magnitude
safer than social distancing. A significant
percentage of the viruses are emitted as small
droplets (less than 5 microns) by breathing.
You can visualize a virus cloud.
If you are walking six feet behind you
are walking into the virus cloud created by the
person ahead of you. So instead of a guideline
which
advises staying six feet apart a revision
is needed which says stay six feet apart from
any individual or the space he has occupied in
the last 60 seconds or the space to which the
ambient air may have moved the virus cloud.
HEPA filters have been proven to remove more
than 99% of the viruses. Viruses are smaller
than the filter openings but collide with larger
particles or with the fibers through diffusion.
UV light will also destroy viruses.
HVAC
systems and room purifiers can be designed to
effectively protect individuals in the space
Particulate monitoring comparisons to
outside air provide good estimation of
quantitative virus removal. Virus destruction
with liquid chemicals, vapors, or gases can
assure thorough sanitation.
The McIlvaine daily Coronavirus Market Alerts
are providing insights on the best approaches to
a cost effective distancing alternative. The
market forecasts anticipate a future where the
protocols are permanent due to benefits not just
from the present pandemic but for increased
health
generally.
Details on the service are found at
http://home.mcilvainecompany.com/index.php/markets/air/82ai-coronavirus-market-intelligence
Bob McIlvaine can answer your questions at 847
226 2391
or
rmcilvaine@mcilvianecompany.com
