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Clean air serves as shield against COVID-19
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eople are encouraged to get access to clean air, indoors and outdoors, to help minimize the adverse effects of coronavirus, given that polluted air can cause respiratory problems.
Respiratory disorders and metabolic syndrome are said to be the main two groups of health problems most potentially susceptible to COVID-19.
"Everyone has the same chance of COVID-19 infection, when they don't carry out health protocols properly. But once infected, someone who already has respiratory problems or metabolic syndrome will suffer much worse. In other words, they will experience a tougher time in the course of the infection bout,” Good Doctor Technology Indonesia’s head of medical management, Adhiatma Gunawan, told The Jakarta Post.
"Polluted air, coupled with the current COVID-19 situation, will certainly provide conditions that are much more detrimental to the community than if the virus is rife in an area where the air is relatively cleaner.
"It does not mean that polluted air will make transmission faster or more widespread. It will affect human respiratory health status, which in some degree may exacerbate the infection.
"So, in the case of contracting COVID-19, the infected is not in prime condition anymore because of already being exposed to a contaminated environment," he said.
Good Doctor is a technology application that provides virtual health services, including the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and health protocols during the pandemic.
Urban residents are encouraged to take part in maintaining clean air, although in practice the cleanliness movement in big cities like Jakarta requires collective efforts from various social elements along with the city administration.
However, people are encouraged to start implementing their green awareness at home, which has become more than a place of household activities in the wake of the pandemic.
"Even though air pollution inside the house is relatively low, if the ventilation system is not good it can cause problems because air circulation can be a medium to transmit viruses or bacteria. If there is someone in the same room who has a disease that can be transmitted through the air, such as COVID-19 and flu, it could cause problems,” Adhiatma said.
While considering ventilation, people may turn to air-purifying equipment to help regulate indoor air circulation.
Several air purifier-producing companies are aggressively marketing their products, said to meet families’ needs for clean and pure air, reducing harmful pollutants and allergens in the home.
“The house is the only private area where the family has control of the air circulation they breathe. However, you cannot guarantee the house is free of viruses, dust, harmful particles of invisible size that carry disease for the whole family. Electrolux understands that families and communities want clean and pure air that is safe to breathe at home,” the company’s media release says.
PT Sharp Electronics Indonesia boasts of the ability of its Plasmacluster technology to reduce the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through the air while Xiaomi has introduced its latest product as an air purifier that can remove 99.99 percent of particles measuring up to 0.1 microns.
"Because the suspected SARS-CoV-2 virus can spread through the air, especially in closed spaces, we must also utilize technology for air purification in the room. Air-purification technology can help minimize the potential for airborne virus transmission,” a release from Royal Philips says.
