[Thread] Clean air & Ireland’s inconsistent #Covid19 rules 1/

‘possibility of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through aerosols is still uncertain..no conclusive proof..further research needed’ HPSC, 22 Sept

^known very high risk & there’s evidence https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/educationguidance/Guidance%20on%20building%20ventilation%20during%20COVID-19.pdf

..but ‘crowded indoor spaces have been shown to be associated with increased transmission.. determining what is due to proximity & poor hygiene practices, & what is ~due to poor ventilation~ though, is difficult’

^so, risk of spread due to poor ventilation is accepted by HPSC 2/

..but, no rules from HSPC, just ‘suggestions, specifically for commercial & public buildings’ ..& only for mech ventilation, which is small % of all buildings ..but ‘residential & healthcare settings fall outside the scope of HPSC document’ ..& very limited advice for schools 3/

..Dept of Education issued interim advice: ‘virus is spread by droplets & is not airborne so the physical separation is enough, even if in the same room’ ..but ‘ensure choir & music room is well ventilated’ (24 June, still on website) 4/ https://www.education.ie/en/covid-19/interim-recommendations-for-the-reopening-of-schools-and-educational-facilities.pdf

..then Dept Ed updated advice but not in main ‘Reopening Schools’ document & after some schools had started:
‘opening of windows to introduce fresh air is very important & should continue via a proactive rather than reactive approach’ (26 Aug) 5/
https://assets.gov.ie/85177/d9643a37-5254-483e-a72e-d2a08ae36d46.pdf

..meanwhile meat plants have ~no ventilation rules~ except ‘doors & windows (subject to appropriate fly screening) in canteen should remain open to allow greater air exchange‘ (16 Sept) 6/

^German meat plants evidence of airborne virus spread up to 8m https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/outbreakmanagementguidance/outbreakcontrolinmeatfactories/Interim%20Guidance%20COVID-19%20Meat%20Factories.pdf

..meanwhile current pub guidance: ‘COVID-19 is not transmitted by air but from person to person through small droplets from nose or mouth’

Fáilte Ireland sector-led guidance for hospitality (pubs, hotels, restaurants, spas etc)

^advice is incorrect 7/
https://covid19.failteireland.ie/business-supports/business-reopening/

..meanwhile construction industry COVID19 sector-led guidance is ~paywalled~ to CIF members ..& HSE construction guidance is only about new cases, nothing about prevention 8/

^some construction work is high risk & clusters have occurred on sites https://cif.ie/download/hse-public-health-advice-for-construction-sector/

..meanwhile nursing homes, also high risk, HIQA report (21 July) says nothing about ventilation ..or opening windows, except that residents: ‘looked forward to ~window visits~ but wondered if they would ever be able to hug their families again’ 9/
https://www.hiqa.ie/reports-and-publications/key-reports-and-investigations/impact-covid-19-nursing-homes-ireland

..meanwhile direct provision, another high risk setting, has guidance from Dept of Justice on cleaning surfaces & hand-washing, nothing on masks, airborne risks or importance of ventilation

^advice is incorrect & unsafe /10 https://www.accommodationcentres.ie/covid-19/ 

..meanwhile HSE hospital advice:
‘Airborne transmission when infectious particles travel over long distances on air currents. Only particles of <5μm are small/light enough to travel this way’ /11

^this is not as current advice by ECDC, CDC, Dr. Fauci etc https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/infectionpreventionandcontrolguidance/aerosolgeneratingprocedures/AGPs%20for%20confirmed%20or%20possible%20COVID19.pdf

..meanwhile no advice from HSE/NPHET to homes & majority of all buildings (that are ‘naturally ventilated’ with windows) about clean air, ventilation & immediate, free preventative measures to stop ~known~ super-spread conditions

Clean air is more important than clean hands
/12

How to stop a pandemic?
Stop the ~known~ super-spread conditions (crowds, indoors in poor ventilation)

‘To avoid another lockdown Germany must focus on identifying & preventing clusters’ #Covid19Ireland /13 https://news.bloomberglaw.com/health-law-and-business/germany-has-its-own-dr-fauci-and-actually-follows-his-advice

‘Japan identified ventilation as critically important to preventing conditions for super-spread.. With population of 126m the total number of deaths from Covid-19 in Japan is lower than in Ireland’ https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/why-good-ventilation-is-key-to-stopping-the-spread-of-covid-19-1.4374754