With the acceptance by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can spread through the air, more attention is being focused on ventilating indoor air to reduce the transmission of the virus.
Singapore authorities — the Building and Construction Authority, National Environment Agency and Ministry of Health — recently issued guidelines on ventilating enclosed spaces to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2.
The indoor spaces that were specified in the guidelines are premises with air conditioning (like malls and office spaces) as well naturally-ventilated spaces (like coffee shops, dormitories, and markets).
For instance, the directive recommends to purge the air daily in air-conditioned spaces with mechanical ventilation (like malls and office blocks) and install window-mounted exhaust fans in air-conditioned spaces without mechanical ventilation (like retails shops).
However, some of the recommendations for natural ventilating at indoor spaces can be applied to homes.
You can improve ventilation at home by opening windows and doors, especially so when hosting non-household guests.
To improve cross ventilation, position a fan to blow out of the window. This will increase air exchange and disperse virus particles away from your house.
Point fans away from people as they might blow contaminated air towards them.
If you have an exhaust fan in the kitchen or toilet, you can operate them at full capacity to expel indoor air.
Check other systems to ensure there is no undesired air leakage into occupied spaces, including water seals in the sanitary system and cracks in pipes and ducts.
If you regularly switch on your air-con at home, it's better to turn it off because the virus thrives in cool and dry conditions.
Top images: KDOT via Qanvast, Home Stratosphere.