British scientists have developed a device that can warn of the risk of Covid-19 transmission in schools and workplaces by measuring the concentration of CO2 in the air.
Device that warns of Covid-19 transmission risk by measuring CO2 concentration in the air.
According to an article published in the journal Indoor and Built Environment, the device was co-developed by researchers at the Royal College of London, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Leeds. The device uses data on CO2 concentration and the density of people in a space to predict the number of individuals at risk of exposure if there is an asymptomatic Covid-19 case in the room.
The researchers argue that humans exhale CO2, so a higher concentration of CO2 in a room indicates a higher density of people and less effective ventilation. Therefore, CO2 concentration can serve as a sign reflecting whether the air quality is adequately ventilated, leading to solutions such as improving ventilation systems or reducing the number of people present at the same time in the room. Observational data from the device indicate that reducing the density of people in a room by 50% could lower the risk of airborne virus transmission by four times.
Dr. Henry Burridge, a researcher at the Royal College of London, stated that monitoring CO2 levels in shared spaces like offices and classrooms can assess the risk of exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus when the number of people in the room is constantly changing. He emphasized the importance of improving ventilation systems in enclosed public spaces.
The results of a study published last month in New Zealand indicated that opening the main doors and windows of classrooms is the best way to increase air circulation in classrooms. Good ventilation conditions help bring fresh air from outside into the room and prevent the risk of polluted air stagnating in enclosed spaces.
