Read on Twitter
@twitter wouldn't let @caruzycki tweet his thread re ventilation so I'm posting it here for him. He's an aerosol scientist who has joined & lent his expertise to #Masks4Canada.
: Why the AB Policy for Reopening Schools Shows Lack of Appreciation
for Student/Staff/Family
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: Why the AB Policy for Reopening Schools Shows Lack of Appreciationfor Student/Staff/Family
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The Government of Alberta guidance for school re-entry does not adequately consider the current scientific understanding of transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, nor does it provide the support required to reopen schools while minimizing the risk of resurgence.
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2 issues:
1)PH order provides great leeway in the wearing of masks & in interpretation of physical distancing; explicitly stated that masks need not be worn while students and staff are seated during class.
2) terms ventilation and HVAC are given only passing reference /3
1)PH order provides great leeway in the wearing of masks & in interpretation of physical distancing; explicitly stated that masks need not be worn while students and staff are seated during class.
2) terms ventilation and HVAC are given only passing reference /3
in scenario plans, and do not appear in the main document for School Re-entry at all ( https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/a3910dd5-d52f-4a7d-821f-a381002419e9/resource/03c07743-31bc-46d1-9c65-b39335c4f3ad/download/edu-2020-2021-school-re-entry-plan-2020-0827.pdf)
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Both issues suggest that the GoAB is neglecting the current scientific understanding of transmission of the virus. Compelling evidence suggests it can indeed be transmitted by aerosols. Aerosol science & medicine community agree this is a potential transmission route. /5
Aerosol transmission explains strongly the various transmission patterns and events that have been observed with COVID-19 since the start of this pandemic /6 ( https://medscape.com/viewarticle/934837?src=uc_mscpedt&faf=1#vp_1
We also know that presymptomatic & asymptomatic spread plays important role w this virus. Students who don't know they're sick may be spewing virus-laden aerosol every time they breathe, talk, cough, sing. In enclosed & poorly ventilated classrooms, the risk of spread
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With time, due to increased exposure to aerosol in the room.
SO, what can we do to reduce the risk of transmission?
1) continual mask wearing indoors for all staff & students (allowing for breaks outside or in excellently ventilated areas when required). /8
SO, what can we do to reduce the risk of transmission?
1) continual mask wearing indoors for all staff & students (allowing for breaks outside or in excellently ventilated areas when required). /8
Masks help to 
amount of aerosol spewed by infected ppl, & help to protect the wearer by filtering out some of virus-laden particles/droplets with each breath in.
It is wishful thinking to presume that by simply having students not face each other while seated /9
amount of aerosol spewed by infected ppl, & help to protect the wearer by filtering out some of virus-laden particles/droplets with each breath in. It is wishful thinking to presume that by simply having students not face each other while seated /9
they will not breathe in virus-laden aerosol (tiny droplets).
2) improve the ventilation & filtration according to recommendations ASHRAE has published re #Covid19. This helps to reduce the concentration of virus-laden aerosol in classrooms and common areas. /10
2) improve the ventilation & filtration according to recommendations ASHRAE has published re #Covid19. This helps to reduce the concentration of virus-laden aerosol in classrooms and common areas. /10
3) REDUCE CLASS SIZES to ensure that physical distance can be maintained at all times, to reduce the chance of spreading events occurring.
These protective measures are not an unreasonable ask, and can be implemented with proper support from the Provincial Govts!! /11
These protective measures are not an unreasonable ask, and can be implemented with proper support from the Provincial Govts!! /11
Without these protective measures, we cannot reasonably expect a different outcome from other close-gathering events ( https://cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/deena-hinshaw-alberta-covid-19-coronavirus-1.5697754) that have been responsible for clusters of outbreaks in AB. /12
We know that students CAN spread this virus; claim that adult-to-adult transmission in shared staff areas is higher than student-to-staff transmission in packed classrooms does not make sense.
There's strong evidence that students can act as efficient spreaders /13
There's strong evidence that students can act as efficient spreaders /13
Parents and the public MUST be concerned with kids becoming infected in classrooms. While kids generally deal with this virus well, some of them face serious health issues. We can't pretend the problem begins & ends with the kid. /14
#COVID19 doesn't care about the individual it infects. Large outbreaks in classrooms will logically lead to outbreaks elsewhere, and not everyone has the immune system and lack of health conditions that we find in a typical healthy child.
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Unfortunately, @jkenney is indeed correct when he states that infections in schools are inevitable, but only because his Govt has avoided taking actionable steps to mitigate the risks this pandemic poses to our people.
Give @caruzycki a
for this great thread & a follow!
Give @caruzycki a
for this great thread & a follow!
His more fulsome piece can get read here:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-alberta-policy-reopening-schools-shows-lack-student-ruzycki/?trackingId=4lENnrBdVn5cGE5Pt1lKrA%3D%3D
#Masks4Canada @masks4canada
#MasksDistanceHandHygieneVentilation
#REDUCECLASSSIZES
@SafeSeptember @SOSAlberta
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-alberta-policy-reopening-schools-shows-lack-student-ruzycki/?trackingId=4lENnrBdVn5cGE5Pt1lKrA%3D%3D
#Masks4Canada @masks4canada
#MasksDistanceHandHygieneVentilation
#REDUCECLASSSIZES
@SafeSeptember @SOSAlberta
