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Workers change out a commercial air conditioning unit.

It’s a weird time in the pandemic. COVID-19 cases are once again climbing in some parts of the United States, but still falling from the January surge in other places. The omicron subvariant BA.2 is now dominant in the country, accounting for more than 50% of new cases in the week ending March 26, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

BA.2 has already taken parts of the world by storm, spurring large outbreaks in Europe and Asia. With the rising spread of the subvariant in the United States, signs are pointing to another COVID-19 wave here, although it’s unclear how big it could be. There is a good amount of immunity from vaccination and infections from other omicron siblings to help flatten the next peak. But the highly transmissible subvariant is advancing at a time when many have tossed masks aside.

I can’t help but feel that we’re sitting ducks. There’s no movement yet to reinstate protective measures to prepare for the coming wave. Instead, there are loud calls to “return to normal.” But even though it’s been two years, this pandemic isn’t over, no matter how much we wish it were. And when people talk about “normal,” I am struck by what can’t be “normal” again.

For millions and millions of people who have lost children, partners, parents and friends, life won’t be the same. One study reported that the “mortality shock” of COVID-19 has left nine people bereaved for every one U.S. death. So for the more than 975,000 who have died of COVID-19 in the United States, there are close to 9 million who are grieving. Although the study didn’t calculate the ratio globally, more than 6 million have died worldwide, undoubtedly leaving tens of millions bereaved. At the global scale, researchers estimate that through October 2021, more than 5 million children have lost a parent or caregiver to COVID-19, putting these children’s health, development and future education at risk (SN: 2/24/22).

Adding to the loss, the pandemic robbed many people of the chance to be with their loved ones as they died or to gather for a funeral. Psychiatrists are concerned that cases of prolonged grief disorder could rise, considering the scale of this mass mourning event.

Many millions who weathered an infection with SARS-CoV-2 went on to develop debilitating symptoms from long COVID, preventing their return to “normal.” A recent report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office estimates that 7.7 to 23 million people in the United States may have developed the condition. Worldwide, an estimated 100 million people currently have, or have had, long-term symptoms from COVID-19, researchers reported in a preprint study last November. Many with long COVID can no longer work and are struggling to get financial assistance in the United States. Some have lost their homes.

And as masking and vaccine mandates have fallen away, people with compromised immune systems have no choice but to fend for themselves and remain vigilant about restricting their interactions. People taking drugs that suppress the immune system or who have immune system disorders can’t muster much protection, if any, following vaccination against the coronavirus. And if they get COVID-19, their weakened defenses put them at risk of more severe disease.

With all that people have endured — and continue to endure — during the pandemic, it would be a colossal missed opportunity to throw aside what we’ve learned from this experience. The pandemic brought wider attention to how racism fuels health disparities in the United States and renewed calls to make more progress dismantling inequities. With remote work and virtual school, many people with disabilities have gained important accommodations. The argument that internet access is a social determinant of health has been reinforced: Places that had limited access to broadband internet were associated with higher COVID-19 mortality rates in the United States, researchers reported this month in JAMA Network Open.

The pandemic could also provide the push to bring indoor air under public health’s wing, joining common goods like water and food. The recognition that the virus that causes COVID-19 is primarily spread through the air has also been a reminder of the airborne risk posed by other respiratory diseases, including influenza and tuberculosis (SN: 12/16/21). Improved ventilation — bringing fresh outdoor air inside — can temper an influenza outbreak, and it helped to control a real-world tuberculosis outbreak in Taiwan.

Paying attention to indoor air quality has also paid dividends during the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools that combined better ventilation with high-efficiency filters reduced the incidence of COVID-19 by 48 percent compared with schools that didn’t, researchers reported last year. This month, the Fondazione David Hume released not-yet-peer-reviewed results of an experiment in the Marche Region in Italy that looked at schools with and without controlled mechanical ventilation and the impact of different rates of air exchange. Replacing the air in a classroom 2.4 times per hour reduced the risk of COVID-19 spread by a factor of 1.7. More frequent exchanges reduced the risk even more, up to a factor of 5.7 with replacement 6 times an hour.

British scientists who advise the U.K. government would like buildings to display signs to inform the public of the status of the air inside. They have developed prototype placards with different icons and color-coding schemes to convey information such as whether a room is mechanically ventilated, uses filtration or monitors carbon dioxide, which is a proxy for how much fresh air a room gets. The group is testing options in a pilot program.

In the United States, the White House has launched the Clean Air in Buildings Challenge as part of the National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan. The Biden administration and Congress have made federal funding available to improve air quality in schools, public buildings and other structures. The Environmental Protection Agency has released recommendations on how to plan for and take action on indoor air quality.

“Healthy and clean indoor air should become an expectation for all of us,” Alondra Nelson, head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, said at a webinar about the new initiatives on March 29. “It’s just as important as the food we eat and the water we drink.”

Making clean indoor air a public health priority, and putting in the work and money to make it a reality across the country, would go a long way to helping us prepare for infectious disease outbreaks to come. It also reinforces the public in public health, a commitment to protecting as many people as possible, just as masking mandates at appropriate times do. It’s how we get to some kind of “normal” that everyone can share in.

Originally published by Science News, a nonprofit newsroom. Republished here with permission.

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Over the past few years, increased priority has been placed in cleanliness with people wearing masks, washing hands more often, desanitizing, and much more in an effort to keep homes and workplaces virus free.

Now, startup Poppy hopes to make it easier for offices track the effectiveness of their health related safety measures.

Founded in San Francisco in 2019 by two former Toronto residents Sam Molyneux and Elizabeth Caley, Poppy now has customers in several Toronto office buildings as well as dozens of others across North America.

Toronto customers include coworking space iQ Offices, LiveTO venues such as Meridian Hall, as well as a number of major banks and corporate head offices.

How does it work?

Poppy measures fresh air, purifiers, filters and other solutions put in place to maximize ventilation and uses biotech technology to measure the effectiveness of these systems in the building.

“Poppy is growing fast to make as many buildings as possible infection-resistant, so folks never have to worry about what’s in their indoor air,” a representative from Poppy told blogTO.

Poppy’s system measures and maps what would happen from viruses, bacteria or molds in the air, so buildings can be continuously made safer.

A 3D image is provided to show if there are any areas or surfaces that aren’t receiving proper ventilation where pathogens could stay and spread for days at a time.

The presence of over 1,000 pathogens are also constantly monitored, giving alerts when things such as C**ID, influenza, mold or salmonella are found to be present within the air.

With this data companies can not only ensure their workplaces are free from the dangers of virus spread, but can also minimize costs and energy by targeting areas that need more help and avoid stressing about areas which are fine the way they are.

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Volatile organic compounds, which come from plastics, glues, disinfectants, and solvents were among the main pollutants recorded with fine dust and liquid droplets suspended in the air, that can be caused by heating, transportation, cooking also detected.

The study included schools located in UK cities, towns and villages and revealed the indoor air pollution of village schools is no better than that of city schools.

And in some cases, levels exceeded the 1-hour exposure threshold set by the WHO, meaning high air pollution that could cause one to experience adverse health effects.

The research was commissioned by natural daily nasal wash Otrivine Natural, as part of an initiative called ‘Actions to Breathe Cleaner’.

It comes after the WHO’s categorisation of air pollution as the largest global environmental health threat, with 93 per cent per cent of children around the world breathing polluted air every day.

Sarah McDonald, GSK VP of Sustainability, said: “We want to inspire people to take action against the health impact of air pollution because children contribute the least to it, but are some of the most vulnerable, to its effects.

“One of the first steps is to be aware of your personal exposure and then learn the actions you can take to breathe cleaner.

“We discovered that indoor air quality can be worse than outdoors and therefore, as part of Actions to Breathe Cleaner, we recommend daily ventilation of classrooms, at times when outside traffic is at its lowest.

“Also, let’s not forget that our noses are our first line of defence, so another action is to wash your nose daily.”

The study also found while children know that air pollution is bad, they don’t know what to do about it.

After participating in the ‘Actions to Breathe Cleaner’ initiative, which consisted of both in-classroom education and air pollution monitoring, the pupil’s knowledge of air pollution and how they might reduce their exposure to it, increased by 54 per cent.

School children were able to analyse the air quality inside and outside their schools over a two-week period through detective-like-search using digital pollution monitors.

The project involved monitoring air for 15 minutes in a stationary position outside the school, during a 15–30-minute walk outside – and for 15 minutes inside the classroom after each walk.

Monitors were also left on inside the classrooms when not in use, to help understand the daily pollution rhythms indoors.

A further 4,000 children were involved in the initiative through a bespoke educational programme that consisted of extensive classroom learning.

Since taking part in the Actions to Breathe Cleaner initiative, many schools have reported they are putting additional actions into practice, such as adding more plants and building a ‘living’ green wall, to help mitigate the health impact of air pollution.

Sarah McDonald added: “The ABC initiative has helped educate over 5,000 children on air pollution and how it is affecting them personally on a daily basis.

“Children spend a significant amount of time at school, and our research shows they may be exposed to air pollutants that could have a detrimental impact on health.

“No action is too small to reduce air pollution. By taking simple small ‘Actions to Breathe Cleaner’ such as nasal washing with saline solution like Otrivine Natural Daily Nasal Wash, ventilating rooms and adapting the route to school, we can breathe better, now.”

To learn more about the simple daily actions you and your children can take to breathe cleaner, visit https://youtu.be/x9_B4UFoGq8

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Spring cleaning is a sometimes dreaded but often necessary activity to keep a comfortable and healthy living environment, and it can save money and prevent frustration down the line.

For Wayne Edelman, the CEO of Meurice — the garment care and house cleaning company founded by his father, Larry Edelman, more than half a century ago — the aim is to go beyond cleaning. He likes to think about the effort that goes into taking care of a home and its contents not as cleaning, but as maintenance that protects an investment.

“There’s a big difference between cleaning and maintenance, and I’m a firm believer in maintenance,” Edelman said during a recent phone interview.

His business’s storefronts include Clean By Meurice in East Hampton Village and Meurice Garment Care in Manhasset, and up until the pandemic, the Meurice flagship was located at University Place in Manhattan. The clothing, linens, handbags and other items that customers drop off are taken to the Meurice’s Bronx facility for cleaning, tailoring and repairs. Meurice’s interiors cleaning division offers including house and office cleaning, post-construction cleaning and disaster restoration.

Speaking from the Bronx, Edelman shared some on the most commonly overlooked yet important areas of the home during spring cleaning — or spring maintenance.

Around The WindowsWindow treatments, from blinds to curtains and ornate draperies, rarely get the routine care they need. Often, when Meurice is called in to clean window treatments, it’s because the windows are being replaced or the room is being painted. The cleaners arrive to find window treatments that have obviously been neglected, possibly for years.

“Routine vacuuming on these types of items as a preventative maintenance is something that’s often overlooked, and ‘A,’ will improve the quality of life environmentally in the home, and ‘B,’ extend the life of the asset,” Edelman said.

He recommends vacuuming both the window-facing side and the room-facing side of drapes, and he emphasized that it’s important to use a HEPA vacuum. Without a HEPA filter, dirt, pollen, dander and spores will just go right back into the air of the home, he noted

When it comes to sheer curtains that can be easily sucked up into the vacuum hose, Edelman points out that vacuums have adjustable suction and multiple hose attachments for that very reason. Turn down the suction to be gentle on the curtains.

While working on the curtains, remember to clean the window screens as well. Edelman said the screens are a given, but what is commonly overlooked is the area between the window sashes and the screen. “As soon as you open up that window, whatever is collected from the outside is going to come blowing into the house,” he said. “So we recommend vacuuming that area out and then using a light cleaner or a damp cloth to get the rest of the dirt out of that area.”

UpholsteryMoving on to the upholstery, put vacuum hose attachments to work. They make it easy to get into nook and crannies where dirt and dust accumulate, according to Edelman.

“It’s amazing what could be done with a vacuum,” he said.

And while cleaning couches, remember to rotate the cushions for even wear. If someone has a favorite spot on the couch, it can show in the cushions, but changing the arrangement of the cushions regularly will extend the life of the whole couch.

Air FiltersFor maintaining healthy air, Edelman said having air exchange between the indoors and outdoors is important and so is having air filters. However, those air filters must be kept clean or replaced regularly to work properly.

Air coming from the outside may carry dust, pollen and other allergens, and indoor air will likely contain volatile organic compounds, known as VOCs, from paint, floor coverings and other finishes, Edelman noted

“You want to change air in the home, but you also want to filter,” he said. “A lot of the home air purifiers are great, but again, if you don’t maintain these, you are doing yourself a disservice.”

He runs two commercial-grade dehumidifiers in his 1890 house, one in the basement and one on the top floor. He said it’s amazing what the third-floor dehumidifier filter catches compared to the basement dehumidifier. He attributes that to warm air rising and bringing dust with it.

Wardrobes And Washing MachinesWhen it comes to the wardrobe, Edelman has a rule: Never put away clothes dirty.

Even clothes that looked clean when they were put away at the end of the season may not look clean at all when they come out of the closet again.

“Clothes should be put away clean,” Edelman said. “You’re doing yourself a disservice to the investment you make in your wardrobe if you don’t put them away clean.”

At the top of his list of reasons is moths. Moths love soft textiles, and they go after soiled areas first, he said.

Then there are the stains that are not visible to the eye initially but change color and cause further damage if left unattended.

“Certain sugary type stains — white wine, champagne, even ginger ale — will caramelize over a period of time,” Edelman said. If the soiled clothes sit in the closet all winter, the stains will turn brown.

Oil stains become more visible as they oxidize and can leave little X’s that are the result of the oil, due to its viscosity, following the pattern of the clothing’s fibers. Moisturizers and the natural oils on skin come in contact with the collars and cuffs of outer jackets, and those areas should be addressed before putting the coat away, he said.

Many articles of clothing that are typically brought to be dry cleaned don’t have to be professionally laundered. Edelman said home washing machines can often achieve good results. What it comes down to is how much time someone has to spare. “In my opinion, my time is my greatest asset,” he said.

Never store clothes in a basement or attic.

“We always recommend storing clothes somewhere where they’re not exposed to extreme changes in temperature and humidity,” Edelman said. “You know, if you wouldn’t want to live there, don’t keep your clothes there — unless you don’t care about them. I can’t tell you how many fur coats we find in boiler rooms.”

It wasn’t always the case that home washing machines could compete with professional cleaning. Edelman said the evolution of front-loading washing machines has made it easy for anyone to care for their garments at home. New machines offer variable speeds and temperatures, such as woolen cycles and gentle cycles, giving the public the option to “wet clean” at home, he said.

Front-loaders do require some extra care and attention compared to top-loaders. The doors should be left open when not in use to prevent mold, and if there is a built-in maintenance cycle, don’t forget to run it.

Front-loaders also have a drain pump filter that should be routinely cleaned.

“People neglect it until it doesn’t work, and then they call a maintenance repair company in — and look at this we came full circle because once again we’re talking about maintaining versus repairing,” Edelman said.

Drier vents should be cleaned semiannually, according to Edelman. Meurice’s disaster recovery division has seen quite a few drier vent fires. Cleaning out the lint twice a year goes a long way toward prevention.

He uses the start and end of Daylight Saving Time as his reminders to perform washer, dryer and other appliance maintenance, the same dates that fire departments use to remind homeowners to check their smoke detectors.

The FridgeRefrigerators and freezers have coils that work via evaporation, like air conditioning coils. If those coils become covered in dust, preventing airflow, they can’t do their job, and the appliance will fail.

Many people don’t even know the coils need to be vacuumed, Edelman said; that is, until their appliance fails and they call in a repair company.

Judging A Deep CleanTo judge if a deep clean was adequate, Edelman has a simple test: Run a white glove along the top of a door frame or the top of a light switch.

If he finds dust, it makes him crazy.

He gets his meticulous nature from his father, who would have been 95 on March 28 but died five years ago.

“Even if his late 80s, he would still come in here,” Edelman said of his father. “He would have an aide … he had his walker, and he would walk around and he would look at the finished product going out and lift the bags and inspect the garments and point out things that he didn’t think were right.”

He praised his father’s attention to detail and said he hopes to be as good as him.

“I’m not in the dry cleaning business, I’m not in the laundry business, I’m not in the fire restoration business,” Edelman said. “I’m in the customer service business, and within that realm, it’s all in the attention to detail.”

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