It’s hard to believe that five years have passed since the world faced one of the most devastating global health crises. The COVID-19 pandemic turned our lives upside down, leaving long-lasting effects on individuals, communities, and entire nations.
According to estimates, there were 704,753,890 reported cases and 7,010,681 deaths worldwide — numbers that reflect not just a health emergency but a profound disruption to healthcare systems and economies, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. While much of the world has long adapted to a “new normal,” the impact of the virus continues to linger.
Conditions like Long COVID remain a serious concern, with no definitive cure in sight. To read more about Long COVID’s effects on the brain, click here.
One of the lessons of COVID-19 is that the virus is airborne, which means it can travel through the air and infect every person who inhales respiratory droplets.
This points towards the crucial nature of indoor air quality and how interventions such as opening doors and windows, installing air purifiers, and disinfecting surfaces are necessary to mitigate the effects of the virus.
Let’s explore how COVID has lasting impacts on human health and the role of good indoor air quality in mitigating the virus.
Effects on Human Health
Several studies have confirmed the prevalence of post-COVID effects on the respiratory system. Many people have reported breathing issues, chronic cough, and long-term inflammation of lung tissue. Even now, people continue to experience symptoms of Long COVID-19, a post-COVID condition with a wide range of symptoms, including shortness of breath, loss of concentration, dizziness, palpitations, and joint pain.
Additionally, there is an increased risk for patients with pre-existing respiratory conditions, such as asthma, bronchitis, and COPD. These individuals are not only highly susceptible to COVID-19 but also to other environmental factors that can trigger or worsen their existing symptoms.
Indoor Air Quality is More Important than You Think
Before the pandemic shook the world, indoor air was the most overlooked factor. The airborne nature of the virus increased concerns about indoor air quality and brought it under the limelight.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), infected people can release virus-containing respiratory droplets into the air through coughing, sneezing, exercising, and singing. These droplets linger for hours and travel through the air, affecting everyone who inhales them.
Considering this, the focus shifted to maintaining indoor air quality to dilute the concentration of virus particles as people began to spend more time indoors during lockdowns. The EPA estimates that indoor air is more polluted than outdoor air, which implies extra caution when it comes to spending time in indoor spaces like gyms, schools, offices and homes.
Ventilation and Filtration are Keys to Health Indoor Air Quality
Maintaining healthy indoor air quality is no longer a choice; it is a necessity. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends the use of air purifiers and HVAC filters to eliminate airborne contaminants and mechamically ventilate a small space.
While air cleaning is only effective when paired with other precautionary measures, it still is a crucial part of the COVID mitigation plan. Air purifiers are only effective in eliminating viruses if they can capture small-sized airborne particles (0.1–1 microns).
For effective air purifier performance, you must choose an air purifier that is the appropriate size for your space, has a high Clean Air Delivery Rate, and features a HEPA filter. Euromate Pure Air features a HEPA filter for the highest particle removal efficiency, capturing airborne particles in residential and commercial spaces. All air purifiers are highly efficient and feature high performance for a contaminant-free indoor space.
Call to Action: Take Indoor Air Seriously
It’s high time we take indoor air seriously. As an air filtration company, we cannot emphasize enough how critical indoor air quality is to our health and well-being. Taking proactive measures to mitigate the effects of fatal viruses like COVID is essential.
From using the right air purifiers equipped with HEPA filters to maintaining proper ventilation, each step plays a vital role in protecting ourselves and those around us. Check out our range of air purifiers and choose the one that best fits your needs.
