ICU Room Without AC Could Be A Way To Minimize The Transmission Of COVID-19 To Medical Personnel

A health worker resting in front of a fan (Source: Antara)

JAKARTA - A study reveals new findings regarding the medical handling of COVID-19. That said, the ICU room is not air-conditioned (AC) can reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection in medical personnel.

The study was carried out by the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru, one of the top science universities in the country. In the study description concluded, than air conditioning, natural air circulation is better.

"It is this recirculation of air by a centralized air conditioning system that causes significant infection in our medical community and also causes the death of doctors and nurses," was quoted as saying Monday, October 20.

This is in accordance with a statement from the World Health Organization (WHO) which says that air recirculation and increasing use of outdoor air can reduce the risk of spreading the corona virus. The Indian Institute of Science study also reinforces previous studies that suggest countries with hot climates are careful to keep closed rooms from drying out due to excessive cooling.

In the study, Indian Institute of Science researchers noted that keeping indoor humidity levels between 40-60 percent could help limit transmission of the virus. As a substitute for air conditioning, the ICU room can be equipped with a fan and exhaust fan.

An air filter made from soap or very hot water must also complement the ICU room. It is important to filter the virus before it is released outside the room.

"Patients (COVID-19) in the ICU are an active source of the virus. And they consistently excrete particles," AG Ramakrishnan, lead author of the study, told Reuters.

"So, if we don't filter the air, it will make things worse," he added.

Medical workers are at the vanguard who bear the heavy burden of the worldwide coronavirus crisis. In India, more than five hundred doctors have died from COVID-19. In general, India is also the second worst-hit country in the world with an infection rate approaching eight million.