MIT researchers have developed a tool that calculates the time it takes to become infected with the virus indoors based on a multitude of parameters.
- In restaurants, talking without a mask and two meters away, the risk of infection without good air filtration is 47 minutes compared to 3 hours with good ventilation.
- In the office, talking without a mask at two meters leads to contamination after 43 minutes compared to six hours with correctly worn masks.
- In airplanes, which are very well ventilated, wearing a mask reduces the risk of infection from 6 hours to two days.
What are the risks of infection in a closed environment? To find out, American researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed an innovative IT tool which calculates the contamination time according to different situations. A whole host of parameters are taken into account depending on behavior, whether or not a mask is worn, the area of the place or the level of ventilation. By integrating these elements, the software gives an accurate estimate of the time it would take for an infected person to infect another. Note that the scenarios are based solely on the British variant, currently the majority in France.
The importance of proper air filtration
To obtain concrete modeling based on everyday life situations, Business Insider performed thirteen different scenarios. These allow you to realize the importance of having good ventilation in enclosed spaces. In the restaurant, speaking without a mask and two meters away, in an establishment of around 90 square meters with 27 people inside, it takes only 47 minutes before being contaminated. By improving the ventilation, with air filtration as good as in an airplane and by frequently changing the air in the room, the delay increases to 3 hours.
The different scenarios concretely show the interest of respecting barrier gestures, starting with the wearing of a mask. They took the example of the office, in an area of 930 square meters that can accommodate 277 people, talking two meters away without a mask creates a risk of infection after 43 minutes. If the mask is worn incorrectly, it takes two hours before being infected. On the other hand, by wearing the mask, it takes six hours before contamination. Respecting social distancing is just as important since if you are within two meters of a person carrying the virus, it takes three hours to be contaminated even if the two individuals are wearing their masks correctly.
The mask, an essential element
As the government prepares to present its deconfinement schedule with, in particular, the upcoming reopening of sports halls, the mask and ventilation appear to be crucial elements to guarantee the safety of followers. In a well-ventilated room of 557 square meters where the athletes keep their mask and respect two meters of distance while making a moderate effort, the virus risks being transmitted after ten hours. Without good ventilation, the virus passes after two hours. The worst scenario appears when followers do not keep their masks on: in just 18 minutes, the virus passes from one individual to another.
Among the other situations, the situation offering the fastest contamination is that of a church where people sing without the mask, in a building of 175 square meters with a high ceiling of 9 meters and a small choir of 10 people. It takes four short minutes before being infected in turn. By replacing singing with speech and adding the mask, this risk increases to three hours.
Finally, in planes, where ventilation is very important, it is the wearing of a mask that appears to be the most essential. In the scenario where it carries 200 passengers, if everyone wears the mask, then it takes two days before being infected. In contrast, removing the masks reduces the time by almost 90% to six hours.
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