Report: Opening windows can prevent the spread of Covid-19

Bringing some fresh air inside could help prevent the spread of the coronavirus according to experts in health, the built environment and microbiology at the University of Oregon and the University of California, Davis.

Their findings have been published in the journal mSystems.

"What we tried to accomplish with the paper is to provide some information for building operators as well as maybe everyday homeowners about simple things that might be done to minimize the potential for transmission indoor environments,” says Kevin Van Den Wymelenberg, one of the report’s authors.

Switching up the air in your house could be as easy as opening a window or opening a door. It help gets the air circulating and could help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

"The theory there is diluting any potential viral copies in the air,” says Kevin Van Den Wymelenberg

You can also increase the amount of outside air through a bathroom fan or window. There is evidence from similar viruses that the admittance of daylight can help expedite the inactivation of the viral particle. Humidity may also be a protection.

“When you have more humidified air your increasing the particle deposition rate and getting it out of the air more quickly here it can be cleaned off of floor services or other surfaces,” says Van Den Wymelenberg.

Humidity between 40% and 60% has shown to accelerate viral inactivation as well as enhancing human immunoprotective mechanisms.

“Though, again, there is less evidence available for this particular coronavirus on those aspects, but I think particle deposition is pretty straight forward,” says Van Den Wymelenberg.

Researchers and health officials continue to stress the importance of washing your hands and social distancing during stay-at-home orders.