Now is the time to improve ventilation in Canada's schools!

We at #Masks4Canada @covidschoolsCA have compiled a primer, best practices + success stories to help YOU drive advocacy. Feedback welcome!
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Author: @spaiglass h/t @DavidElfstrom @caruzycki (mistakes mine)

THREAD: /1
A #COVID19 infected individual releases infectious particles by talking, coughing, sneezing, laughing, etc., “Aerosol transmission” acknowledges airborne spread of the virus. It has different PH implications than droplet transmission.

Img: Dr. Butler, nationalacademies.org/event/08-26-20…
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Important: The virus is NOT naked in the air. It is encased in droplets or smaller aerosols (10-1000X bigger than virus). Aerosol size impacts efficacy of masks + air purifiers, *and* how deeply particles penetrate the respiratory tract.

Adapted from: docs.google.com/document/d/1fB…
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Earlier this week, Canada acknowledged aerosol-based transmission of #COVID19.

Signals that we CANNOT rely only on strategies such as excessive surface cleaning (droplet model). We must now include masks, ventilation, air filtration (see blow).

cbc.ca/news/health/co…
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Bookmark this FAQ on protection from #COVID19 aerosol transmission. Written by infectious aerosol experts presenting at the highly-regarded @theNASEM. Well-written + regularly updated.

docs.google.com/document/d/1fB…
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Protection from airborne #COVID19 includes strategies such as:
🚫Avoiding Crowds, Indoors, Poor ventilation, Prolonged Close Contact, Talking/yelling/singing
✅Being Outdoors, Wearing Masks, Improving Ventilation or Air Cleaning by Filtration

Source: docs.google.com/document/d/1fB…
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Ventilation is dilution of indoor air w/ fresh air. Can be natural (doors, windows) or mechanical (central HVAC). Mechanical useful when natural not possible (low temp., no windows, pollution). Portable air cleaners can filter recirculated air.

Source: docs.google.com/document/d/1fB…
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How much ventilation is enough?
The @WHO recommends 6 “air changes per hour” (or 6 ACH) using natural and/or mechanical ventilation.



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CO2 meters are an affordable way to measure vent. rates in a classroom (start <$200 USD). Rate at which excess CO2 in a room decays => how quickly air is refreshed in a room.

How-to by @jljcolorado: medium.com/@jjose_19945/h…

Ventilation calculator: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d…
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@HarvardChanSPH has published a 5-step guide to check ventilation rates in classrooms:
1. Measure class dimension
2. Check instruments are working
3. Measure outdoor air vent rate
4. Compare results to target
5. If needed, supplement air cleaning

schools.forhealth.org/ventilation-gu…
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Schools have differing needs for ventilation upgrades and funds. **One size does not fit all.**

Measuring vent. in all classrooms will identify which need portable units, retrofits, + which should be closed.

@PHLschools in US is doing this now:



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NYC also did this in early Sep. Schools closed for one week + ventilation inspectors measured all classrooms.
nbcnewyork.com/news/local/doe….

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Germany is currently investing ~$500M (!) in vent. systems for public buildings, inc. universities + schools. Funds are available for CO2 sensors; individual grants < 100K euros for upgrades.

bbc.com/news/world-eur…

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In Canada, Ontario providing $700M of Fed-Prov $ for infrastructure projects in schools. This includes ventilation upgrades.

Project CVRIS-EDU (Deadline: Nov 18!)
See memo B20 here:
efis.fma.csc.gov.on.ca/faab/B_Memos_2…

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In Toronto, @tdsb bought 6,000 HEPA portable units w/ $6M of $6.9M Prov funds allocated over the summer. This initiative prioritized poorly-ventilated classrooms:


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Conditions on how funds can be spent + systematic measurements will ensure more schools are equipped with basics (e.g. portable HEPA units) - i.e. be equitable.

It will avoid expensive solutions for the few, at the expense of the many 👇🏾

granderie.ca/board/news/stu…

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While summer was the ideal time for upgrades, we must hasten now to improve ventilation in schools that need it.

This is part of ensuring that schools are maximally protected through the Winter.

For more see this guide from @HarvardChanSPH:
schools.forhealth.org

/END

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More from @covidschoolsCA

5 Nov
Good morning. ☕
Here is our cumulative view of #COVID19 in Canadian schools.

05 NOV 2020, 06:57 AM
🏫 3,620 schools
🚨 480 clusters & outbreaks

📍 Map: tinyurl.com/covidschoolsCA…
📨 Report cases/errors: tinyurl.com/covidschoolsCA…
📈⤵️ More CHARTS in thread:
/1
Download everything on the map to date
📈drive.google.com/file/d/1I8htvH…
/2
🏫 SCHOOLS, by % 🏫
QC - 1,391 of 2,997 (46.4%)
ON - 1,229 of 6,771 (18.2%)➡️ 25.5% of 4,828 public
AB - 504 of 2,482 (20.3%)➡️ 24.2% of 2,080 public
BC - 269 of 1,943 (13.8%)
MB - 152 of 785 (19.4%)
SK - 62 of 769 (8.1%)
NB - 13 of 302 (4.3%)

/3
Read 13 tweets
4 Nov
Good morning. ☕
Here is our cumulative view of #COVID19 in Canadian schools.

04 NOV 2020, 08:56 AM
🏫 3,565 schools
🚨 461 clusters & outbreaks

📍 Map: tinyurl.com/covidschoolsCA…
📨 Report cases/errors: tinyurl.com/covidschoolsCA…
⤵️ BREAKDOWN:
/1
Download everything on the map to date
📈drive.google.com/file/d/1xBH4aW…
/2
🏫 SCHOOLS, by % 🏫
QC - 1,378 of 2,997 (46.0%)
ON - 1,208 of 6,771 (17.8%)➡️ 25.0% of 4,828 public
AB - 499 of 2,482 (20.1%)➡️ 24.0% of 2,080 public
BC - 258 of 1,943 (13.3%)
MB - 148 of 785 (18.9%)
SK - 61 of 769 (7.9%)
NB - 13 of 302 (4.3%)
/3
Read 13 tweets
3 Nov
Good morning. ☕
Here is our cumulative view of #COVID19 in Canadian schools.

03 NOV 2020, 07:30 AM
🏫 3,495 schools
🚨 457 clusters & outbreaks

📍 Map: tinyurl.com/covidschoolsCA…
📨 Report cases/errors: tinyurl.com/covidschoolsCA…
⤵️ BREAKDOWN:
/1 Image
Download everything on the map to date
📈drive.google.com/file/d/1-CNBlQ…
/2 Image
🏫 SCHOOLS, by % 🏫
QC - 1,369 of 2,997 (45.7%)
ON - 1,175 of 6,771 (17.4%)➡️ 24.3% of 4,828 public
AB - 478 of 2,482 (19.3%)➡️ 23.0% of 2,080 public
BC - 254 of 1,943 (13.1%)
MB - 148 of 785 (18.9%)
SK - 58 of 769 (7.5%)
NB - 13 of 302 (4.3%)
/3
Read 13 tweets
14 Sep
The live map shows COVID-19 cases (yellow) + outbreaks (orange). Clicking on a point shows supporting links, type of school, number & nature of cases, + outbreaks.
See the map here: masks4canada.org/canada-covid-1…
or here: google.com/maps/d/edit?mi…

📊Data tables available soon!
/2 Image
Submit a confirmed case / outbreak using the form on our website. Provide supporting info (letter from school board, PHU, media report). We never publish personal info, so please don't send us any.
Know a great school tracker in your Province? Tell us!
masks4canada.org/canadian-schoo…
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We are currently:
* Creating rules to log various scenarios
* Training our team to find sources of COVID cases in all the Provinces, and to correctly log cases
* Automating nightly updates
* Entering data!

⚙️More on our process soon!
/4
Read 6 tweets

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