In early October, several scientists and experts worldwide have suggested that airborne
transmission of COVID-19 can occur in enclosed and poor ventilated spaces during winter.
Hence, it is essential to keep homes and offices ventilated, at least during the pandemic.
Since the start of the pandemic, people have been trying to stay indoors – whether it’s
inside the house or office. Spending too much time in an enclosed space without proper
ventilation can negatively impact one’s health. The quality of indoor air is an essential factor
to consider, especially now as we spend more time in it.

Getting clean and fresh air during warm months is easier as people can easily open their
windows (even if it is not recommended in Dhaka due to the high level of air pollution) or
turn on a fan. However, during winter, it becomes difficult to do either of those due to the
cool temperature.

On the other hand, according to recent research (stated in the New York Times), there is a
deadly link between COVID-19 and air pollution. Air pollution is not only limited to giant
industrial smokestacks or thousands of cars in gridlock traffic, but it also includes dust, pet
dander, and other various things that can easily be found inside your home or office. Indoor
air pollution can also be created through cooking. Nitrogen oxides from gas stoves are a
known respiratory irritant, as is the fine particulate matter that is most likely wafting off
your roasts.

Thus, an air purifier can help you to keep your living space and office clean and trap
airborne spores in its filters to prevent them from sticking to walls and reproducing. It will
capture particles and stop them from re-entering the room and relive allergies quickly. Air
Purifiers with HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters are very effective and are certified
to capture 99.97 percent of particles that are 0.01 micron and above.

According to Consumer Reports, HEPA Filters are very efficient at catching coronavirus-size
(0.125) microns, but the particles must first physically travel to the filter. That means an air
purifier has to be capable of consistently drawing in enough air to reduce the number of
virus particles in the air. The faster an air purifier can cycle air through the filter, the better
its chances of catching virus particles. You can see how fast an air purifier cleans the
surrounding air by looking for its CADR (clean air delivery rate) number on the packaging.

Remember, these harmful air pollutants such as smoke, tobacco, dust, particles such as PM
2.5, bacteria, and other viruses can put a strain on our lungs and make our body vulnerable
to severe viruses or diseases like COVID-19. Early research on COVID-19 suggests the risk of
hospitalization and time in intensive care units correlates to preexisting health conditions
even more than to age. Chronic pollution exposure contributes to the burden of those
conditions, and then COVID-19 becomes a stressor that causes those systems to fail.

Consumer Reports recommends looking for air purifiers with a CADR over 240, which can
perform roughly five air exchanges per hour in its suggested room size. You will find many
air purifiers in the Bangladesh market where Samsung have air purifiers with a CADR of over240. Starting from BDT 24,900 csutomers can purchase from Samsung authorized stores and
also available online.

Thus, investing in an air purifier doesn’t seem like a bad idea, especially for people who have
a sick family member. But remember one thing, air purifier doesn’t destroy coronavirus; it
decreases the risk and prevents you from getting infected with other diseases. And even the
most efficient air purifiers can’t prevent some droplets from landing on surfaces where they
can live up to 28 days. Hence, to help prevent the spread of the virus in your house, you
should clean your home and wash your hands frequently, too.