Air Quality and COVID-19

Simple Ideas to Help Prevent Covid-19 from Entering Your Home

Posted on by EnvDoc Writer

The pandemic of our lifetime is still affecting millions of Americans. With the one-year anniversary of the “stay-at-home” orders approaching, we thought it would be a good idea to revisit simple ideas to help prevent covid-19 from entering your household.

First things first, some of us don’t have the luxury to work from home.

covid vaccine

Essential workers are still needed at hospitals, senior homes, grocery stores, and the like. Since we can’t detect the virus on our hands, clothes, or other surfaces, you should have a plan in place each time you enter your home.

Doctors and nurses online have shared their routines, including taking a shower immediately after entering their shared household.

Keeping your clothes in a bag and separated from others is also a great idea before washing them altogether.

Make sure to wipe down any shared surfaces in a restroom as well.

With a total of four different covid-19 strains confirmed in 2021, health experts are now advising shared households to wear masks indoors, especially if a person is going out to work in the medical field or a shared indoor space.

If you can work from home, your only worry should be concerning public outings. Grocery delivery may be available in your area, although the cost can also add up. Thus, if you’re getting take out and shopping for groceries in person, coming back home with all these items may seem stressful.

We recommend the following when returning home:

– Wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and hot water immediately after returning home.

– Wipe down any items that will be handled by kids or elderly folks at home. Children are more unaware of washing their hands frequently or prone to touching their faces often. The elderly are more at risk; eliminating the harmful levels for them is a plus.

– Wipe down doorknobs or surfaces touched after unloading your items.

– If you wore a cloth mask, throw it in the dirty laundry basket soon after.

If you have questions about your indoor air quality, contact us at your convenience. Photo thanks to @hakannural and @ashkfor121

Air Quality and COVID-19

Posted on by EnvDoc Writer

Air Quality and COVID-19


How does indoor air quality impact COVID-19 transmission?


As the weather gets colder and people are spending more time indoors, healthcare professionals and engineers believe that indoor air purifiers could play a role in helping protect your family from COVID-19.


Air purifiers are not a cure-all, CDC guidelines should be closely followed regarding hand washing, social distancing, and face masks. However, personal air purifiers for your home or office may offer an additional layer of protection when used in conjunction with these other recommended precautions.


It is widely accepted that the coronavirus can spread in multiple ways. It is unclear how much droplets, and contaminated surfaces, compared to aerosolized particles are responsible for contributing to the transmission of COVID-19. Yet, according to the technical lead for WHO (World Health Organization), the probability of airborne transmission especially in specific conditions, such as closed, and poorly ventilated indoor settings — cannot be ruled out. More about this can be read at the WHO’s scientific briefing.

Can air purifiers provide an additional layer of protection by removing a percentage of virus particles from the air?

Air Quality and COVID-19

At first air filters were not thought to be very effective at removing the virus from the air since COVID-19 particles are too small for a HEPA filter to reliably catch. However, when these micro-droplets are exhaled by a human they are embedded in saliva and mucus, in fact, the virus cannot live in the air without this protective coating. Thankfully, this also makes the virus particles significantly larger and easily filtered out by quality air purifiers. Recent tests indicate the use of indoor air purifiers can decrease concentrations of virus particles in the air, thus providing a clear benefit by reducing the potential for exposure.

Learn more about the best air purifier for you by taking advantage of in-depth research and reviews in this comprehensive guide from Consumers Advocate. Remember that personal air purifiers also filter out allergens, dust, and chemicals. Although a quality air purifier can be expensive. In this case, the potential benefits outweigh the costs. Think of it as a healthcare tool and investment in your health and future. Indoor air quality is important, and with the additional threat that COVID-19 poses, it is better to be safe than sorry. Schedule a home air quality test from Environmental Doctor and make a plan to improve your indoor air quality today!