A Mask is Not a Mask-Big Difference in Efficiency and Fit 

Hotel Construction Moving Forward

Hotels have a Variety of Safety Measures  to Combat COVID

Airborne Virus Particles are Not Dead Just Dormant

Purchasers of COVID Products at Hospitals Being Tracked

Hospitals Not Ready For Second Wave of Virus

Don’t Rely on Vaccines

Air Conditioning in Hot Climates is Likely to be a Big Transmission Vehicle

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A Mask is Not a Mask-Big Difference in Efficiency and Fit

An analysis of mask filter media shows that there are big differences between materials and the fit of the mask.  Homemade masks can be quite efficient on removing particles such as viruses but the pressure drop is high. The fit of the mask means as much as the media efficiency.   Details of the study are shown in an ACS publication https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.0c03252

There is a need to evaluate filtration efficiencies as a function of aerosol particulate sizes in the 10 nm to 10 μm range, which is particularly relevant for respiratory virus transmission. The researchers carried out these studies for several common fabrics including cotton, silk, chiffon, flannel, various synthetics, and their combinations. Although the filtration efficiencies for various fabrics when a single layer was used ranged from 5 to 80% and 5 to 95% for particle sizes of <300 nm and >300 nm, respectively, the efficiencies improved when multiple layers were used and when using a specific combination of different fabrics. Filtration efficiencies of the hybrids (such as cotton–silk, cotton–chiffon, cotton–flannel) was >80% (for particles <300 nm) and >90% (for particles >300 nm). The researchers  speculate that the enhanced performance of the hybrids is likely due to the combined effect of mechanical and electrostatic-based filtration. Cotton, the most widely used material for cloth masks performs better at higher weave densities (i.e., thread count) and can make a significant difference in filtration efficiencies. Studies also imply that gaps (as caused by an improper fit of the mask) can result in over a 60% decrease in the filtration efficiency, implying the need for future cloth mask design studies to take into account issues of “fit” and leakage, while allowing the exhaled air to vent efficiently. Overall,  the study  finds that combinations of various commonly available fabrics used in cloth masks can potentially provide significant protection against the transmission of aerosol particles.

 

Table 1. Filtration Efficiencies of Various Test Specimens at a Flow Rate of 1.2 CFM and the Corresponding Differential Pressure (ΔP) across the Specimens

 

The quilter cotton mask could have a capture efficiency of less than 13%. This means that these masks are not effective in combatting the virus. Some of the fabrics which are effective have a high pressure drop. Most important the fit of the mask is a key factor. An N95 mask with a gap is only 34% efficient on particles less than 0.3 microns.

The advice about wearing masks tends to treat all masks as equal.  In fact there is a world of difference. 

Hotel Construction Moving Forward

Some of the world’s leading hotel designers weighed in on the current state of the global hospitality industry, with particular attention being paid to project pipelines and the stage of various hotel developments around the world. The reaction to the crisis has been mixed, with many projects being put on hold, but others ploughing full steam ahead.

The stage of the development obviously has an impact on whether or not a project can move forward, as does the liquidity of the developer, and developers whose properties were already funded are planning on forging ahead, says Clay Markham, Vice President, Global Sector Leader Hospitality of CallisonRTKL. Darrell Long, Design Principal and Regional Managing Director at Wilson Associates, is surprised at the number of developers that are proceeding with their schemes. “That number is shockingly large,” he says. 

Hotels have a Variety of Safety Measures  to Combat COVID

IHG, owner of hotel chains like InterContinental and Holiday Inn, followed many major hotel companies by announcing new cleanliness measures on May 18, in conjunction with Cleveland Clinic medical experts and Ecolab and Diversey hygiene experts. The in-progress changes may include hotel-wide extra deep-cleaning of high-touch surfaces, "last cleaned" charts and social distancing practices. Other changes might be individual amenity cleaning kits for guests, plus hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes in guest rooms.

Four Seasons is partnering with Johns Hopkins Medicine International for its new global health and safety program, "Lead With Care." The program notes that public areas will be cleaned hourly, with extra attention to areas like the front desk counters and public restrooms; kits with masks, hand sanitizer and sanitization wipes will be in each guest room; and restaurants and bars might operate at a limited capacity for social distancing purposes, among other initiative

Omni's "Safe & Clean" initiative includes a daily health screening for employees, with a temperature check. The company is expanding its use of Environmental Protection Agency- and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-approved disinfectants. Omni is increasing the cleaning of its heating and cooling systems and replacing air filters more often. High-traffic areas will become one-way where possible. Single-use items will be placed in guest rooms, and a limited-contact check-in and check-out process will become standard.

Caesars Entertainment is assuring guests its employees are well-versed in cleaning and disinfectant practices, which includes PPE use. Multiple handwashing stations have been added to the resort, and both slot machine banks and table games will allow for social distancing going forward, among other changes.

MGM launched its "Seven-Point Safety Plan," a new standard created with medical and scientific experts to curb the spread of coronavirus, respond to possible new cases and keep customers and employees safe.

In addition to upgraded incident response protocols and contactless check-in, some of the company's focuses will be:

• Screening, temperature checks and employee training: Employees will be screened for signs and symptoms of infection and will continue to go through temperature checks. Guests are encouraged to adhere to CDC guidelines for self-quarantine and to not travel if they think they have been exposed.
• Mandatory masks and PPE: Employees will be given an approved mask to wear when on the property, and guests are encouraged to wear masks in public areas. Free masks will be offered to guests who need one. Guests should limit the amount of time they are drinking on the casino floor and should not eat there.
• Physical distancing: Floor guides will be throughout properties making sure people adhere to six-foot distancing. But MGM is aware distancing could prove difficult. "From time-to-time, six-foot distancing will be challenging – and in those cases, reasonable mitigating protocols will be implemented, such as plexiglass barriers or eye protection for employees," according to the new policy.
• Hand washing and enhanced sanitization: On top of enhanced cleaning, MGM will deploy electrostatic sprayers for more efficient disinfecting. Hand washing and sanitizing stations will also be available in high-traffic spots, along with signage.
• HVAC controls and air quality: MGM has worked to minimize risk of virus transmission with HVAC systems. HVAC systems will be reviewed and adjusted pending science and government guidance.

Wyndham, which has more than 6,000 hotels in the U.S., announced a new initiative called "Count on Us", which includes updated cleaning and disinfection procedures for guest rooms and public spaces, plus easy access to health essentials.

The chain will ship products including face masks for hotel employees, disinfectant wipes for guests and hand sanitizer. Wyndham is also set to partner with Ecolab to use its disinfectants across guest rooms and public spaces.

Sandals and Beaches Resorts, which has 24 properties in seven countries, has its own new sanitation rules. The chain's Platinum Protocols of Cleanliness Program will include precautionary temperature checks, personal anti-bacterial hand towels and individual in-room hand sanitizer, according to Sandals spokesperson Rachael Salzer. Each hotel room will be maintained using UV-LED lighting equipment to inspect cleanliness, air duct sanitization for each arrival and upon each departure and weekly carpet steam-cleaning.

Hilton  is partnering with the company behind Lysol, as well as the Mayo Clinic, to better ensure cleanliness in its hotels. The new program will be called "Hilton CleanStay" and aims to give guests peace of mind when staying at a Hilton property, whether they are in guest rooms, restaurants, the gym or other public areas.

Full details are being ironed out, but several initiatives in development include:

• An official room seal indicating that a room hasn't been accessed after a deep cleaning
• The removal of pen, paper and guest directories in favor of a digital option (or available on request)
• Contactless check-in, where guests can complete check-in and check-out processes via a mobile app and receive a digital room key (Hilton Honors members already have access to digital keys) 
• Electrostatic sprayers and ultraviolet light to be used in the sanitization process

Marriott said it will use electrostatic sprayers with hospital-grade disinfectants to sanitize throughout its hotels. In addition to guest rooms, the sprayers will be used in lobbies, gyms and other public areas. It said the cleaning agents used would be those recommended by the CDC and Prevention and the WHO to kill all known pathogens. 

In addition, the company is testing ultraviolet light technology for sanitizing room keys and adding hand sanitizer stations and signs in the lobby to remind anyone who enters to keep their distance from others. Marriott is also taking a look at what to do at properties that offer buffet service.

Airborne Virus Particles are Not Dead Just Dormant

Scientists previously thought that the viral droplets traveling some distance were dead, but new research shows that they are simply dormant and waiting for a new source of rehydration.

In fact, Stephanie Taylor, a Harvard Medical School lecturer, studied the effect of hospital environments on human health and found that when air is dry, "droplets and skin flakes carrying viruses and bacteria are launched into the air, travelling far and over long periods of time. The microbes that survive this launching tend to be the ones that cause healthcare-associated infections." It turns out that humans are an ideal source of hydration - made up of 60% water. Compounding exposure, dry air also interferes with our natural immune barriers, humid in nature, which makes us even more susceptible to infection.

While the NIH is still studying the issue, other studies seem to confirm her findings. A team at the Mayo Clinic humidified half of the classrooms in a preschool and left the other half alone over three months during the winter. Influenza-related absenteeism in the humidified classrooms was two-thirds lower than in the standard classrooms.

Further, many older hospitals, especially those found in urban areas, lack effective ventilation systems or negative-pressure patient rooms that can filter out airborne contaminants. Many built before the 1950s, these older hospitals have simply not made the type of upgrades to their systems over time that would mitigate the amount of contaminated air circulating on the inside of a hospital.

Purchasers of COVID Products at Hospitals Being Tracked

Coronavirus Technology Solutions is including contact information for those interested in COVID mitigation in specific end user groups. Presently contacts at meat processing plants and healthcare architecture and planning firms have been posted. The next group will be those at the 100 top hospitals in the U.S. Note that the top 20 hospitals have more than1000 beds each

 

1. New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center (New York City) – 2,259¹
2. Florida Hospital Orlando – 2,242²
3. Jackson Memorial Hospital (Miami) – 1,732³
4. Methodist Hospital (San Antonio) – 1,585⁴
5. UPMC Presbyterian (Pittsburgh) – 1,583⁵
6. Yale-New Haven (Conn.) Hospital– 1,552⁶
7. Orlando (Fla.) Regional Medical Center– 1,510⁷
8. Montefiore Hospital-Moses Campus (Bronx, N.Y.) – 1,438⁸
9. Baptist Medical Center (San Antonio) – 1,422⁹
10. Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital (Indianapolis) – 1,372¹⁰
11. Methodist University Hospital (Memphis, Tenn.) – 1,367¹¹
12. Barnes-Jewish Hospital (St. Louis) – 1,335
13. Norton Hospital (Louisville, Ky.) – 1,295¹²
14. The Cleveland Clinic – 1,277
15. The Mount Sinai Medical Center (New York City) – 1,221¹³
16. Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital (Houston) – 1,176¹⁴
17. Buffalo (N.Y.) General Hospital – 1,159¹⁵
18. UAB Hospital (Birmingham, Ala.) – 1,118
19. North Shore University Hospital (Manhasset, N.Y.) – 1,076¹⁶
20. Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak (Mich.) – 1,070

https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/lists/8-7-14-100-largest-hospitals-in-america.html

Hospitals Not Ready For Second Wave of Virus

Hospitals will not be ready for a renewed onslaught of coronavirus infections if a second wave comes in the fall, a Rhode Island emergency physician told Congress on Thursday, May 21.

“I do not think that we are currently prepared for a second wave,” Dr. Megan Ranney, emergency physician and Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at Brown University, testified before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis.

Several medical experts, including US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Dr. Robert Redfield, have predicted coronavirus could start spreading fast again in the autumn, and said it would be complicated by the beginning of a fresh influenza season, too. 

There has not been enough preparation for that, Ranney told the hearing.

“We still lack adequate protective equipment in most hospitals across the country,” Ranney said. “On a national level, we still are millions and millions and millions of pieces of PPE short from what hospitals need currently; much less what they need in order to build the normal stockpiles that we all keep in order to face pandemic situations.” 

Staff are having to reuse equipment meant to be thrown out after every patient encounter – a dangerous practice. “We would never have reused an N95s for an entire shift. We never would have reused surgical masks in between patients and that's what we're doing now,” Ranney said.

Plus, more research is needed, she said. “We also still lack adequate science,” Ranney said. “I'm so thankful for the funding that you all have given to NIH and CDC but it's not enough, and we need more.”  

But most of all, Ranney said, the US needs “adequate testing for frontline workers, not just in healthcare, not just in nursing homes and sniffs and hospitals, but also all of you who have testified today.”

Don’t Rely on Vaccines

The global case tally for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 passed 5 million on Thursday after the biggest one-day increase since the start of the outbreak, as a top U.S. scientist cautioned that people should not rely on a vaccine and the labor market continued to show massive job losses.

William Haseltine, a scientist, biotech entrepreneur, and infectious disease expert, is chair and president of the global health think tank ACCESS Health International and said the best way to manage the pandemic is through measures such as isolation, testing and contact tracing and observing social-distancing, face masks and frequent hand washing.

 

“Do not listen to the politicians who say we’re going to have one by the time my reelection comes around,” he said. “Maybe we will (but) I’m just saying it’s not a slam-dunk case by any means ... because every time people have tried to make a vaccine – for SARS or MERS – it hasn’t actually protected.”

His comments came as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned that the virus is likely to return in the fall and winter and may force a fresh round of lockdown measures. Robert Redfield told the Financial Times that the U.S. needs to speed up its disease-tracking capabilities in the next few months to avoid another public health crisis.

“We’ve seen evidence that the concerns it would go south in the Southern Hemisphere like flu [are coming true], and you’re seeing what’s happening in Brazil now,” Dr. Redfield told the FT. “And then when the Southern Hemisphere is over, I suspect it will reground itself in the north.” 

Air Conditioning in Hot Climates is Likely to be a Big Transmission Vehicle

The Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Associations (REHVA) in Europe had warned that the coronavirus could stay airborne for some time and travel long distances. Architect Justin Bere noted that "It recommends avoiding central recirculation during SARS CoV-2 episodes and closing the recirculation dampers, even if there are return air filters. As the REHVA guidance says, these don’t normally filter out viruses." Bere explained:

Recent research indicates that large droplets from sneezing can travel much further than 2 meters, even if there are no air movements. Small particles (<5 microns), generated by coughing and sneezing, may stay airborne for hours according to the REHVA guidance and can travel long distances. A Coronavirus particle is only 0.8 to 0.16 microns diameter so there could be many virus particles in a 5-micron droplet floating around in the air.

They have been studying the problem in Canada too. Professor Brian Fleck told the National Post that "this has been on people’s radar for quite a while,” he said. “Somebody on a different floor sneezes …The particle can stay airborne long enough to go all the way through the system and then pop out in somebody else’s office.

There are various ways that the risk can be lessened, including use of filters that catch a greater number of those particles, and drawing more fresh air into a system....But each of those changes carries a cost. Adding more fresh air can require additional heat or air conditioning. Heavier filters means more energy is needed to push the air through them.

But it doesn't get as hot in Canada as it does in Arizona. Engineer and Professor Ted Kesik told TreeHugger that "we shall be greatly challenged retrofitting our existing buildings to eliminate dilution ventilation systems." This is especially a challenge in the heat of a southern summer, where the difference between inside and outside air can be 40°F in Arizona or Texas. In the Southeast, there is also a lot of humidity with the heat. That's why the air is recirculated; the amount of energy needed condition a mall's worth of outside air would be ridiculously high.