Doctors call for indoor control measures

Pubs, restaurants and workplaces need be given specific ventilation guidance as they they prepare to bring customers indoors again as pandemic restrictions ease, say leading doctors.

The British Medical Association (BMA) say more must bedonetopromotetheimportance of fresh air and a ‘clean airflow’ indoors to stave off Covid-19. The BMA say the Government has clearly conveyed the "hands, face, space" message but more needs to be done to promote the importance of fresh air.

The call comes after a report from the University of Leicester, the University of Hong Kong, Edinburgh NapierUniversityandVirginiaTech in the US, which said the "tiniestsuspendedparticlescanremain airborne for hours" and people are more likely to become infected in a room with windows that can't be opened or lacking any ventilation.

The report, published in The British Medical Journal, added: "It is now clear that the virus transmits mostly between people at close range through inhalation. Transmission by touching surfaces is now considered to be relatively minimal."

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chairmanofcouncilattheBMA,said the report emphasised how "crucial" clean airflow is.

He added: "There has been much discussion by the Government about 'hands, face andspace'butmuchlessabout theimportanceoffreshairand throughflow in buildings and on public transport.

"As restrictions are eased, and there is greater mixing betweenpeopleinenclosedspaces,itisvitalmeasuresaretaken toensureadequateventilation.

"Thisshouldincludeexplicit specifications on ventilation requirements in public and work settings.”