Question about Viruses

[kwelz]

You wouldn't expect a bit more activity at major facilities claiming long lines, etc? Did you watch the whole thing? It's not one ER, not by a long shot.

If complete fabricated BS, then it's also probably up to every day citizen types to show otherwise as they don't believe the media at this point, and understandably so.

So all the Medical professionals are in on some conspiracy? They are lying about what is happening in the hospitals?

This kind of crap is just beyond stupid. It is on the level of 9/11 truthers and People who claim the Moon landing is a Hoax.

It relies on a lack of understanding on how Hospitals are operating right now.

Elective surgeries and all minor procedures have been halted. Anything not directly related to urgent needs is being put off to free up resources for the people who are in need.

Just because some conspiracy theorist say it is so, doesn't make it reality.

[WillBrink]

So all the Medical professionals are in on some conspiracy? They are lying about what is happening in the hospitals?

This kind of crap is just beyond stupid. It is on the level of 9/11 truthers and People who claim the Moon landing is a Hoax.

It relies on a lack of understanding on how Hospitals are operating right now.

Elective surgeries and all minor procedures have been halted. Anything not directly related to urgent needs is being put off to free up resources for the people who are in need.

Just because some conspiracy theorist say it is so, doesn't make it reality.

I posted this in the wrong thread. Supposed to be here:

https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread...44#post2829444

Mods, remove as needed.

[tb-av]

You wouldn't expect a bit more activity at major facilities claiming long lines, etc?

Around here the instructions are that calls are made so hospitals can prep for your arrival. I don't think they go in the ER entrances. Plus it's been my understanding that the hospitals themselves are not overwhelmed, just the ICU and any warding off of COVID19 people.

Then again I'm not in NY or LA.

[tb-av]

Being a bacteria that can grow if given the right conditions and media, air filters are an obvious concern. Virus's don't grow outside their hosts at least.

So if we go with bacteria is a alive and a virus exist on a surface. What exactly are we doing to it as we try to remove it from a surface? Could we liken it to say an ink dot on our hand. Wash with alcohol or soap and we no longer have a dot or a stain. We are basically just ripping it up or dissolving it into something non-virus? Like maybe a dried leaf from a tree. We still call it a leaf until it's ground to dust and not likely you could reassemble a spoon of dust into a leaf.

What about putting food in your freezer? Can the cold preserve the virus regardless of the surface it's on?

[WillBrink]

So if we go with bacteria is a alive and a virus exist on a surface. What exactly are we doing to it as we try to remove it from a surface? Could we liken it to say an ink dot on our hand. Wash with alcohol or soap and we no longer have a dot or a stain. We are basically just ripping it up or dissolving it into something non-virus? Like maybe a dried leaf from a tree. We still call it a leaf until it's ground to dust and not likely you could reassemble a spoon of dust into a leaf.

Soap and water, diluted bleach, alcohol at high enough %, etc kills the virus. The virus has an envelope, the viral envelope disrupted, kills virus, and no longer an active virus.

What about putting food in your freezer? Can the cold preserve the virus regardless of the surface it's on?

I recall the virus is very cold tolerant and will shrug off being frozen for lengthy periods of time (Google that one to confirm), but is not heat tolerant and or killed by above listed. Anything you purchase now and put in fridge or freezer should be wiped down first if in a package. Food itself will get cooked, so that's not an issue.

[mrbieler]

For as long as the virus can survive on the surfaces of the duct system, yes:

"According to a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can live in the air and on surfaces between several hours and several days. The study found that the virus is viable for up to 72 hours on plastics, 48 hours on stainless steel, 24 hours on cardboard, and 4 hours on copper. It is also detectable in the air for three hours."

I'd think the real concern is a duct system blowing covid around a building it pulled in from some location someone had covid, but I don't know how big a concern that is realistically speaking.

Contaminated duct work (especially return air ducting) is the highest risk area as it's pulling air from occupied spaces.

HVAC filter can't stop the virus. It's too small. A MERV 16 HVAC filter (the highest before HEPA) only captures 95% of particulate 0.3 micron and above. The virus itself is down in the 0.1~0.2 micron size. HVAC filters CAN capture the particulate the virus is riding and we suggest MERV 13 and MERV 14 in more critical areas. MERV 13 is the lowest rated filter that will capture particles down to 0.3 micron.

Unfortunately, most homes use 1", 2" and 4" pleats and despite what the filter says, none are actually above MERV 9 in real efficiency (which capture 50% of particles 1.0 micro and above .

Even HEPA filters are not 100% vs small virus particles, but they capture much more particulate.

In theory, the virus captured on the filter will be dead in a few days. We're recommending that buildings go to 100% outside air where ever possible to avoid recirculating air from inside the building. By and large, people are the biggest contributor to inside air quality problems. We're also recommending that buildings change filters much more frequently to keep static pressure inside the system as low as possible to maximize the amount of air we can circulate through a room.

Hospitals and health care centers are scrambling to upgrade their systems now.

[MegademiC]

Contaminated duct work (especially return air ducting) is the highest risk area as it's pulling air from occupied spaces.

HVAC filter can't stop the virus. It's too small. A MERV 16 HVAC filter (the highest before HEPA) only captures 95% of particulate 0.3 micron and above. The virus itself is down in the 0.1~0.2 micron size. HVAC filters CAN capture the particulate the virus is riding and we suggest MERV 13 and MERV 14 in more critical areas. MERV 13 is the lowest rated filter that will capture particles down to 0.3 micron.

Unfortunately, most homes use 1", 2" and 4" pleats and despite what the filter says, none are actually above MERV 9 in real efficiency (which capture 50% of particles 1.0 micro and above .

Even HEPA filters are not 100% vs small virus particles, but they capture much more particulate.

In theory, the virus captured on the filter will be dead in a few days. We're recommending that buildings go to 100% outside air where ever possible to avoid recirculating air from inside the building. By and large, people are the biggest contributor to inside air quality problems. We're also recommending that buildings change filters much more frequently to keep static pressure inside the system as low as possible to maximize the amount of air we can circulate through a room.

Hospitals and health care centers are scrambling to upgrade their systems now.

Inline UV systems destroy viruses. Do hospital hvac systems not have them?

[mrbieler]

Inline UV systems destroy viruses. Do hospital hvac systems not have them?

Some do. Many don't. UV is nice, but the bulbs have to be replaced annually and they shorten the life of the plastic frames on the MERV 14 final filters. They have a lot of benefits, but until now many hospitals didn't see the cost benefit of the retrofits. Many hospitals also neglect to keep up on bulb replacement. Too many other service issues for the crews to manage. Most of hospital facility management is damage control. Many of those same hospitals are calling for it now. There are also upper air UV units that sweep the upper air in a room. We're seeing a lot of demand for that as well.

As with many things, things tend to change when the shit hits the fan.

We ASSUME UV will kill this virus, but as of now I'm not aware of a completed study. Most likely it does.

[sundance435]

What an idiot. Covid19 patients aren't in the ER. They are in isolation and ICU rooms.

Not to mention the numerous remote hospitals that have been set up. Most hospitals have triage areas set up so that patients avoid the ER altogether. And many hospitals around here will turn you away if you don't call in advance so that they can pre-screen you over the phone and direct you where to go.

[ABNAK]

What happened to the big COVID thread?