Europe is divided! Most citizens support the measures to contain the coronavirus, and they protect themselves in accordance with the recommendations of the health ministries. Others have taken to the streets to protest for a relaxation or abolition of corona restrictions – for a variety of reasons. Who’s right?
Both sides are in the right! Supporters and critics of the corona restrictions
Even without being a virologist, it should be clear to even the most critical opinion leaders that the coronavirus poses a life-threatening danger, especially for older people and high-risk patients. It cannot be wrong to protect these people! Whether a minimum distance of 2 metres in closed rooms is sufficient protection against infection is questionable, according to the current state of knowledge. Many people congregating in a confined space promotes the spread of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, as US epidemiologists report in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR: 2020; DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6919e6) concerning a so-called superspreader event in a church choir, in which a person infected with the coronavirus infected 52 fellow singers.
Choir groups can get infected with coronavirus during rehearsals despite distancing rules
A 61-piece choir group met for rehearsals in the state of Washington (USA). All prescribed safety precautions were observed: contactless greeting, disinfectant and strict adherence to distancing rules. Nevertheless, 53 of the 61 people present fell ill with Covid-19. Several people had to be treated in hospital, and two died as a result of the infection. There have also been comparable cases in Germany. At Berlin Cathedral, 78 members of the Cathedral Choir met for a rehearsal. 59 of the choir members showed symptoms of illness after a few days, and 31 tested positive for Covid-19. The long time spent in the room “obviously made it irrelevant how far apart one sits,” choirmaster Tobias Brommann told “Evangelisch.de“. In Amsterdam, 100 people fell ill after a Passion concert from the “Gemengd Koor” (mixed choir). 4 people died from the consequences.
These chains of infection were triggered by aerosols (tiny saliva particles) released during singing, which are distributed over several metres in the room and stay afloat for several hours. There is also no minimum distance from this dangerous mode of infection[1] (infection via inhaled air), which has also been recognised by the Robert Koch Institute. This case makes it clear that the measures prescribed by the authorities do not provide complete protection against the virus. In gyms, supermarkets or restaurants and other enclosed spaces, a minimum distance of 1.5 or 2 metres applies, but this does not protect against airborne aerosols that are released into the air when you speak or cough. Even simple mouth-nose masks do not protect against aerosols. Inhalation of the aerosols, which are only a thousandth of a millimetre in size, can only be prevented by using a breathing mask with a particle filter (FFP3). At 5 to 9 EUR per piece, they are not only very expensive, but are also difficult for members of the public to source in the current climate.
Trotec develops innovative TAC V+ air purifier to protect against infectious aerosols
The only real protection against airborne infection in closed rooms is effective and permanent air purification to filter the infectious viruses out of the air as quickly as possible, before they are inhaled by other people in the room. Trotec, based in Heinsberg, has developed the air cleaning technology needed, including special H14 HEPA particulate filters. The development of the TAC V+ innovative air purifier was started immediately in Heinsberg after the first cases of the infection were announced. The device is now available for purchase or rental, and is already in use at numerous companies such as notebooksbilliger.de. For the protection of employees and customers.
Aerosols – the invisible danger of infection in the air
When breathing, speaking or coughing, we not only emit large, visible droplets into the room in a kind of “drizzle”, but also, and to a much greater extent, tiny aerosols. While the large droplets sink to the ground after only about 1.5 metres due to their weight (which gives rise to the distancing rule of 1.5 metres), infectious aerosols, which are only a thousandth of a millimetre in size, actually remain in the air “for several hours”. Therefore, distancing rules, smaller and spatially separated groups and more frequent hand washing alone do not protect against transmission of the virus. Aerosols released when speaking spread invisibly through the circulating room air for hours and are inhaled. The aim must therefore be to prevent permeation into the breathing air as far as possible in working areas with multiple people. And this is achieved by combining the other measures with the use of the TAC-V+ air purifier.
TAC V+ – the innovative air purifier for protection against infectious aerosols in the air
In the new TAC V+ air purifier, Trotec has developed a globally unique indoor air purifier with HEPA thermal decontamination technology. The mobile TAC V+ circulates and cleans the air in closed rooms with an effectiveness that has previously only been experienced in hygiene-sensitive clean room environments and hospital operating rooms. This is made possible by the air purifier’s high air throughput and a new type of HEPA thermal decontamination. This means that almost any enclosed space can be kept virtually virus- and germ-free in the long term, regardless of the number of people in it.
What sounds very technical in theory, proves to be extremely uncomplicated in practice. The room air is sucked in near the floor, freed from bacteria and viruses by the HEPA filter and returned to the room as germ-free clean air. No installation, no complicated connection process. Simply plug it in and immediately ensure the maximum level of protection possible against infection!
Maximally clean room air means minimum risk of infection
Distancing rules, face masks and increased cleaning and disinfection procedures are – considered in isolation – all sensible measures! But they do not offer “real” protection against infectious aerosols, as they rise like smoke up to several metres into the air and only slowly sink to the ground after several hours over a large area. Even behind supposedly safe sneeze barriers. The risk of becoming infected with the coronavirus through the room air is reduced when using a TAC V+ air purifier with virus filter.
You cannot ask for more, and you should not demand less for employees, customers and guests:
- Compliance with all requirements and hygiene regulations (minimum distance, compulsory masks, sneeze barriers, disinfection measures etc.)
- Air purification to reduce the airborne risk of infection
Useful information about the H14-HEPA high-performance filter with a transmission level of ≤ 0.005 %
The H14 virus filters specially developed by Trotec for the TAC V+ and TES 200 air purifiers leave a good impression with their first-class filter efficiency and innovative performance characteristics. With a transmission level of only 0.005% and a separation efficiency of 99.995%, they offer 10 times the separation efficiency of conventional H13 filters. Thanks to these first-class properties, H14 high-performance filters are even used for clean air production in operating theatres and in other comparably hygiene-sensitive areas.
All H14 high-performance filters offered by Trotec meet the highest quality standards, which are obligatory for the filtration of bacteria and viruses:
- Each H14 high-performance filter is individually tested and given its own serial number.
- The test report is enclosed in duplicate as a certificate with each H14 filter.
- The original test certificate can be filed away and a copy attached to the air purification device when required.
- H14 HEPA high-performance filters are tested according to EN 1822 and EN 60335-2-69.
The TAC V+ can be ordered in different colours as well as with a customisable woven surface.
Trotec has set up a special advice centre for companies, authorities and public institutions on all questions concerning infection protection:
Trotec GmbH
Mr Jochem Weingartz
Telephone: +49 2452 962-137
jochem.weingartz@trotec.com
[1] The Robert Koch Institute SARS-CoV-2 briefing on the coronavirus (COVID-19), SARS-CoV-2 Steckbrief zur Coronavirus-Krankheit (COVD-19), version from: 15 May 2020
