Just like everyone, we at Level One continue to monitor the latest news and updates regarding the global COVID-19 pandemic. As this issue of enormous scale and human impact continues to rage on, our hearts go out to anyone affected by this outbreak.
What is the coronavirus and how does it spread?
Here is what we currently know about COVID-19 and how it spreads, as per Harvard Medical School:
The coronavirus is thought to spread mainly from person to person. This can happen between people who are in close contact with one another. Droplets that are produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes may land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby, or possibly be inhaled into their lungs.
A person infected with coronavirus — even one with no symptoms — may emit aerosols when they talk or breathe. Aerosols are infectious viral particles that can float or drift around in the air for up to three hours. Another person can breathe in these aerosols and become infected with the coronavirus. This is why everyone should cover their nose and mouth when they go out in public.
Coronavirus can also spread from contact with infected surfaces or objects. For example, a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.
A recent study found that the COVID-19 coronavirus can survive up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard, and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel. The researchers also found that this virus can hang out as droplets in the air for up to three hours before they fall. But most often they will fall more quickly.
There’s a lot we still don’t know, such as how different conditions — exposure to sunlight, heat, or cold — can affect these survival times.
The CDC recommends to clean frequently touched surfaces and objects every day. These include counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and so on.
In light of this information, before employees return to work we are recommending that business owners do an additional HVAC filter change and evaporator cleaning with a strong disinfectant, even though it may be ahead of schedule. While there is no evidence that COVID-19 is fully airborne and can be transmitted through an HVAC system, it is our opinion that it is better to be absolutely sure in this time of uncertainty. Doing so can also catch other allergens that can weaken employees’ immune systems.
We hope that this recommendation will give your employees some peace of mind, even though it is difficult to find as of late. We at Level One HVAC continue to take all necessary precautions to keep our employees and clients as safe as possible. We are all in this fight together — the irony of solidarity despite remaining apart should not prevent us from being vigilant and proactive in stopping the spread of this pandemic.
If you have any concerns about your HVAC system’s ability to keep you comfortable, we at Level One HVAC are here to help. Give us a call at (248) 486-6500 if you’d like to know more. If you don’t have time to call, you can fill in our online contact form and someone from our staff will be in touch with you shortly.
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