They’ve reopened indoor dining in my neighborhood. As far as I can tell, all restaurants I see this lunchtime are at maximum indoor capacity. That’s very distressing.

Today’s a weekend, and thus hard to avoid conclusion that many of those availing of indoor dining went out of their way to leave their homes just to dine out, as if there were no surge.

Also started testing the CO2 monitor that I bought on Lazada (to test ventilation in indoor spaces) inside some of these restaurants and at the mall. The results were horrific, but I don’t want to draw conclusions yet (it was a relatively cheap unbranded monitor I bought.)

But if those readings were accurate (>4500 ppm), means that no air changes at all, that moment someone with COVID speaks while mask improperly worn, that everyone who shares same airspace for longer than 40 mins is vulnerable, even if masked or socially distanced.

Any news org that wants to seriously report on ventilation, how about they purchase a reputable CO2 monitor and start investigating our indoor dining and commercial spaces to test how well ventilated these actually are, then report to the public.

It can also be govt agencies, public health authorities, and LGUs that can do this. But I fear that the results will just be so catastrophic (i.e., barely any indoor commercial spaces will pass muster)

Older buildings, those designed before air-conditioning was available in the Philippines, will fare much better when it comes to ventilation. I'm thinking for example those older buildings in UP campus (AS, Malcolm and Benitez Halls, even the chapel)