Charlie StrossDec 27, 2022

Reminder, folks: the COVID19 pandemic is NOT over, it's just that the big commercial landlords decided it was hurting their business rents so leaned hard on the politicians and media to SAY that it's over.

Right now China is in the FO phase of FAFO, and involuntarily providing an amplifier for a new extra-virulent strain that'll make an end run around our half-assed vaccines AGAIN.

Stay safe in 2023!

Show threadCharlie StrossDec 27, 2022
I will add that masking/distancing/vaccination is all good, but what we REALLY need is forced PM2.5 air filtration in all public spaces. Schools, hospitals, universities, shops, restaurants, cinemas: on trains, buses, planes, and passenger ships. And ESPECIALLY schools and hospitals. These premises have always been viral disease amplifiers, but filtration stops it spreading at source.
Show threadMark FinchDec 27, 2022
@cstross
The Victorians were onto something with the sash window.
Show threadCharlie StrossDec 27, 2022

@mfinch And the relics of the 1918-22 flu pandemic are with us today in the legacy of heaters/radiators bolted to walls beneath windows that open—it's wasteful b/c glass is a poor insulator, BUT it allows ventilation while preventing cold drafts—fresh air was considered necessary during the flu pandemic (it helps) and cold climates need heat, so you warm the air as it's drawn in.

We can do better today, but the past holds lessons.

Show threadMark Finch
@cstross
Do we hit a conflict as the building industry is pushed to more stringent air quality tightness for energy efficiency reasons.
Dec 27, 2022 at 4:07pmWeb
Show threadAndrew BartlettDec 28, 2022

@mfinch @cstross This happened in NZ. Houses that were not airtight and had an open fire did not have mould issues as the fire drew in air constantly.

Once things got sealed up indoor humidity starts to be a major issue so there is a big push to remember to manually ventilate and control moisture sources as well as finished heating properly.

Show threadMark FinchDec 28, 2022
@abartlet @cstross
If no effective ventilation then germs simply circulate and indoor humidity as you say becomes problematic. Mechanical ventilation could address though making buildings tighter to save energy and then using energy to ventilate seems a bit odd.