Thread by @jljcolorado

1/ CO2 during international airplane travel

Will tweet the levels in different parts of the trip from the US to Spain with @lufthansa

Not great in the check-in area. Lots of mediocre masks (poorly fitting surgical or cloth), also some N95s

#covidCO2

2/ Waiting at the security line @DENAirport

Ok, not bad given the number of people

3/ Departure Gate at @DENAirport. Not bad, despite lots of people.

#covidCO2

4/ Still waiting to board. Impressed with @DENAirport terminal ventilation, despite crowding

5/ Settled at our seats, we were able to board early.

Improperly masked @lufthansa flight attendants asked us to remove our elastomeric N95 masks and put surgical masks instead (!!). We refused and were able to convince them that these are real N95.

#covidCO2

6/ Boarding is progressing, and CO2 is rapidly climbing. Poor ventilation, does not seem to be at full speed.

Not impressed with @lufthansa so far.

#covidCO2

7/ CO2 during the flight hovered around 1200-1600 ppm. Not as bad as what others have repo on other airlines, and with the filters the risk is lower than it would appear w/ CO2 alone.

8/ Munich airport @MUC_Airport. CO2 ok, although we are in an area with very few people.

We'll see as we go to more crowded areas.

#CovidCO2

9/ Another part of @MUC_Airport by our departure gate. Not bad.

#covidCO2

10/ Boarding our last @lufthansa flight at @MUC_Airport to Spain.

Going up, we'll see how high it gets.

#covidCO2

11/ Finished boarding, pretty high.

12/ Getting pretty bad as we taxi towards takeoff

#covidCO2

13/ the terminal at @Aeropuerto_BCN is ok as well.

14/ I'll continue to document indoor CO2 in this thread as we travel around Spain.

At the @CosmoCaixa museum of science in #Barcelona:

Lots of people, but good ventilation

#CovidCO2

15/ Planetarium at @CosmoCaixa, at the end. Half full, good ventilation

16/ Checking that the CO2 mitor is well calibrated with the outdoor concentration. Makes sense since today is pretty windy in Barcelona.

17/ Starting a 2 hrs train trip on the Spanish high speed train (AVE @AVEMadBcn) from @Renfe. 70% occupancy.

Increasing, we'll see how high it gets

18/ I try to eat at a different time than others, ideally before. I have a water bottle with a straw type connection (pic) that I can slip under the mask.

But you have to accept some risk while traveling (or not eat and drink, that'd be too much for me)

19/ Later into the train trip on @Renfe @AVEMadBcn. CO2 has increased, but less bad than what I have seen others post in other trains.

Presumably there is filtered recirculating air, so overall the risk is not too high.

20/ @elcorteingles departament store in #Zaragoza (Independencia).

Quite a few people, but very good ventilation.

21/ @Movistar mobile phone shop in Zaragoza. 12 people in a large shop. Not great given few ppl, but not too bad.

22/ From the same @Movistar phone shop. Ventilation wasn't great, but they had signs on the phone displays that you should not touch the phones before someone disinfects them for you...

Stuck in 2020, despite ZERO demonstrated cases of surface transmission & DOMINANT airborne...

23/ Checking the comparison with a similar meter, which is an easy way to check that the measurement is likely correct.

Normally within 30-50 ppm would be good, these 2 being so close is great but better than typical.

#covidCO2

24/ En @CosmoCaixa en #Zaragoza en una actividad para niños. Ni bien ni mal.

25/ Climbing Gym @bulderland in #Zaragoza, Spain.

Definitely too high for a gym.

Also signs saying that it is ok to remove the mask when climbing, when that's the most important time to wear it! Higher aerosol emissions and inhalation when exercising...

26/ Same gym, completely outdated protocols, with high emphasis on disinfection. Despite ZERO proven cases of surface transmission.

Nothing about airborne transmission, other than masks. No specification of type. Many mediocre masks.

Just an example, same almost everywhere...

27/ Restaurant El Lienzo in Ávila, Spain. Eating outdoors w/ family. Indoor well ventilated 625 ppm.

But bathroom doesn't have ventilation, seems to be a problem in many places.

28/ @aeropuertoMAD, good ventilation as in other airports.

But the still emphasis in useless disinfection measures

29/ In the tramway in Zaragoza @tranviadezgz

Not rush hour, but quite a few people. Some small windows are open. I think there is some filtration, so Ok but not great.

Everyone masked, although many poorly fitting surgical or KN95 (nose esp.). Few ppl talking. Overall low risk

30/ At the Zaragoza @zaragoza_es train station. Huge building, good ventilation due to openings for trains to go in and out (plus other systems). Same levels as outside, very safe.

31/ Just jumped into the train @Renfe @AVEMadBcn. Completely full, plenty of mediocre masks such as surgical band even cloth. Some masks below the nose.

And horrible ventilation...