UCF study creates computer model looking at importance of COVID-19 safety protocols
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Updated: 10:36 PM EDT Apr 5, 2021
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Updated: 10:36 PM EDT Apr 5, 2021
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COVID-19 IN SCHOOLS. SUMMER: THE STUDY SHOWS TWO WAYS WORK BEST. WESH 2’S GAIL PASCHALL-BROWN EXPLAINS. GAIL: WHEN IT BOILS DOWN TO REDUCING THE AIRBORNE SPREAD OF COVID-19 IN CLASSROOMS, A NEW STUDY FROM THE UNIVERSITY CENTRAL FLORIDA SAYS THE ANSWER IS CLEAR. >> IN CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT OR ANY INDOOR ENVIRONMENT, IN THAT SO LONG AS YOU KEEP USING MASKS, THE NEED FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING ISN’T THAT IMPORTANT GAIL MICHAEL KINZEL, THE STUDY’S CO-AUTHOR SAYS THEY CREATED A COMPUTER MODEL OF A CLASSROOM WITH STUDENTS AND A TEACHER, ALL MASKED, SITTING ABOUT FOUR FEET APART. >> THE MASKS BASICALLY PREVENTED THE AEROSOLS AND DROPLETS FROM GOING TOWARDS NEIGHBORING STUDENTS, AND IT JUST WENT UP THE CEILING, BECAUSE WE EXHALE HOT AIR. USING MASKS ACTUALLY ENABLES ESSENTIALLY CLASSROOMS TO GE PACKED IN A LITTLE BIT MORE, A TO ME IT I ONE OF THE KEYS ON HOW TO GET THE ECONOMY AND ALL INDUSTRIES KIND OF KICK STARTED. GAIL: HE SAYS A GOOD VENTILATION SYSTEM ALSO REDUCED INFECTION RISK BY 40% TO 50% COMPARED TO A CLASSROOM WITH NO VENTILATION. >> WE DON’T WANT TO RELAX MASK USAGE. WE WANT TO RELAX SOCIAL DISTANCING. AND WE ALSO WANT TO START LOOKING AT, CAN WE OPEN UP WINDOWS, OR CAN WE HAVE MAKE SURE OUR VENTILATION SYSTEMS ARE ACTUALLY PROPERLY WORKING AND DESIGNED. GAIL: THIS RESEARCH WAS FIRST SUBMITTED LAST NOVEMBER FO PUBLICATION AND WAS PUBLISHED IN FEBRUARY. >> WE ACTUALLY HAD THIS RESEARCH OUT BEFORE THE CDC GUIDELINES AND SO MAYBE IT HAD A ROLE IN HELPING THEM MAKE THAT DECISION. I DON’T KNOW. GAIL: FUTURISTICALLY, WHEN COMES TO MASKS, HOW LONG WILL WE BE WEARING THEM? MY GUESS IS THERE WILL BE A TIME WE DON’T WEAR MASKS, BUT I THINK THE IDEA OF WEARIN