Another report examining the HVAC as the key spreader in the south – https://news.yahoo.com/connection-between-coronavirus-air-conditioning-103000756.html
“At an online event hosted by the Massachusetts Consortium on Pathogen Readiness, Harvard Medical School professor Edward Nardell noted that states using high levels of air conditioning in June due to “high temperatures” have experienced “greater increases in spread of COVID-19, suggesting more time indoors as temperatures rise.” This mimics the increase in illness that occurs in the winter when we spend “more time indoors.””
“Hospitals deal with this regurgitation of air by using UV lights, high-quality HEPA filters, and routine cleaning to ensure their HVAC system is not spreading contagions. (Potential good news: A recent study at Columbia University Irving Medical Center found Far-UVC lights, safe for humans, have great efficacy in killing some forms of coronavirus; further testing on SARS-CoV-2 is ongoing). But the average home or business is extremely unlikely to have such technology, and the risk of contagious particles being recycled through the home increases as a result.”
“For those in the upper Midwest, Pacific Northwest, and New England, there are few more enjoyable things than letting the soft breeze of a summer morning waft through the home. Not so in the South, where daily temperatures reach high into the nineties routinely.”
“Taking a small poll of Texans in Houston, Dallas, and Lubbock, we found that the average thermostat is set to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Matching that information to our data, we noticed the R0 — the viral reproduction rate — of infection tends to increase when the average outside temperature exceeds the average temperature of many Texans’ thermostats, likely meaning their houses are closed up and the air conditioning is running.”
“Yet a rise in average temperature — and its effect on personal cooling habits — is not a monocausal explanation for any of these states’ viral surges. Timing is a factor as well; the virus reached these places later than the North, its spread delayed into the summer months. While this means later peaks, it also means infections converging with hostile temperatures and rising rates of A/C use. And when you combine the reopening of private establishments, lack of mask-wearing, and mass migration to air conditioning, there is certainly ample opportunity for the spread of COVID-19.”
IF there is even half truth to this hypothesis – when it gets cold again in the North expect a resurgence of the virus unless we start doing something about it now. There are mechanical solutions out there to reduce the viral spread in the HVAC. It is not so outpriced it is not affordable for commercial/office buildings to employ. Creative engineers I am sure will come out with more solutions once it becomes mandated/guided to mechanically reduce viral load in public spaces. Here is a product being pushed – I still think best to put it into the ventilation system – https://safeology.com/uvc-tower/
UK came out with their health campaign against obesity in the name of covid – https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-obesity-strategy-unveiled-as-country-urged-to-lose-weight-to-beat-coronavirus-covid-19-and-protect-the-nhs
“Ban on TV and online adverts for food high in fat, sugar and salt before 9pm
End of deals like ‘buy one get one free’ on unhealthy food high in salt, sugar and fat
Calories to be displayed on menus to help people make healthier choices when eating out – while alcoholic drinks could soon have to list hidden ‘liquid calories’
New campaign to help people lose weight, get active and eat better after COVID-19 ‘wake-up call’”
Interesting focus on calories and not much focused on process food reduction. A step in the right direction.
Mexico on top of deaths as the data yesterday was missing 1035. India second 711
TX leads in death at 86
Same counties driving the confirmation.
Miami-Dade is now 4% of the population confirmed. NYC was down at 2.7% – but fatality rate was also 10X more.
Even if we combined all the counties still nothing approaching NYC in terms of deaths. Confirmations certainly combined would overwhelm NYC.
As a country the US confirmation rate seems to be flattening out. The deaths are slightly rising.
