1/
Herewith a longish thread on how these #CorsiRosenthalBoxes helped 3 of us avoid #COVID19 while a family member self-isolated. Extra challenges included (1) a Yukon winter, and (2) controlling infectious aerosols in an energy efficient house.
Herewith a longish thread on how these #CorsiRosenthalBoxes helped 3 of us avoid #COVID19 while a family member self-isolated. Extra challenges included (1) a Yukon winter, and (2) controlling infectious aerosols in an energy efficient house.
2/
I made these two C-Rs during our family's latest scrape with C19. These are my 9th and 10th DIY air cleaners. The others (save one) are in schools and a restaurant in the Yukon.
I made these two C-Rs during our family's latest scrape with C19. These are my 9th and 10th DIY air cleaners. The others (save one) are in schools and a restaurant in the Yukon.
3/
This is how it began:
Following a recent indoor event attended by hundreds of unmasked delegates in Whitehorse (many with science degrees, yes), the geologist brought home C19, in spite of trying not to.
This is how it began:
Following a recent indoor event attended by hundreds of unmasked delegates in Whitehorse (many with science degrees, yes), the geologist brought home C19, in spite of trying not to.
4/
He wore an N95 90% of the time, except during his talk & drinking/eating (there are no outdoor options in frigid temps). His subsequent infection was no surprise. One-way masking can only do so much. His was not the only infection.
He wore an N95 90% of the time, except during his talk & drinking/eating (there are no outdoor options in frigid temps). His subsequent infection was no surprise. One-way masking can only do so much. His was not the only infection.
5/
A few days after the conference his voice sounded a little raspy. Then on Nov/23, the symptoms began (sore throat, etc.). He immediately self-isolated in our bedroom with its own bathroom.
A few days after the conference his voice sounded a little raspy. Then on Nov/23, the symptoms began (sore throat, etc.). He immediately self-isolated in our bedroom with its own bathroom.
6/
For the next 4 days, despite negative RAT results from (Nov/23, 24, 25, 26) he continued to self-isolate. He tested once a day in the morning before eating/drinking, swabbing his throat, cheeks, & both nostrils.
For the next 4 days, despite negative RAT results from (Nov/23, 24, 25, 26) he continued to self-isolate. He tested once a day in the morning before eating/drinking, swabbing his throat, cheeks, & both nostrils.
8/
On Nov/27 the geologist had his first positive test. These positives continued up to Dec/02. Followed by a weaker positive line on Dec/03 & finally his first negative test on Dec/04. This was confirmed by another negative on Dec/05, whereupon he exited self-isolation.
On Nov/27 the geologist had his first positive test. These positives continued up to Dec/02. Followed by a weaker positive line on Dec/03 & finally his first negative test on Dec/04. This was confirmed by another negative on Dec/05, whereupon he exited self-isolation.
9/
This met our family's test-to-leave isolation policy (2x negative RATs 24/hrs apart).
Why this policy?
Because in this study 17% of participants "had positive cultures beyond day 5 from symptom onset, with the latest on day 12" -
academic.oup.com/cid/advance-ar…
This met our family's test-to-leave isolation policy (2x negative RATs 24/hrs apart).
Why this policy?
Because in this study 17% of participants "had positive cultures beyond day 5 from symptom onset, with the latest on day 12" -
academic.oup.com/cid/advance-ar…
10/
As Public Health authorities across the world fail to protect citizens from C19, we are increasingly having to make our own rules. The oxymoronic invention of "individual public health" is a case in point -
canada.ca/en/public-heal…
As Public Health authorities across the world fail to protect citizens from C19, we are increasingly having to make our own rules. The oxymoronic invention of "individual public health" is a case in point -
canada.ca/en/public-heal…
11/
In total, the geologist self isolated for 12 days, the first 4 of which he tested negative.
Consequently, nobody else in the family was infected.
In total, the geologist self isolated for 12 days, the first 4 of which he tested negative.
Consequently, nobody else in the family was infected.
12/
There were two reasons for this - (1) he self-isolated when he got symptoms, rather than waiting for a positive RAT result; and (2) we focused on ventilation/filtration in our home, to decrease infectious aerosols in circulation.
Why did we want to avoid infections?
There were two reasons for this - (1) he self-isolated when he got symptoms, rather than waiting for a positive RAT result; and (2) we focused on ventilation/filtration in our home, to decrease infectious aerosols in circulation.
Why did we want to avoid infections?
13/
Because COVID is not flu. It is a vascular virus. It doesn't get milder (despite the geologist being vaxxed/boosted + having had a flu jab, this was the worst bout he has had, his previous C19 infections were milder).
Because COVID is not flu. It is a vascular virus. It doesn't get milder (despite the geologist being vaxxed/boosted + having had a flu jab, this was the worst bout he has had, his previous C19 infections were milder).
14/
Also, three of us (myself and 2x sons in their early 20s) have enough C19. Our eldest son and I have had Long Covid since March/April 2020. And our youngest son was hospitalised for 5 days with rhabdomyolysis, a few weeks after his first/acute infection in 2020.
Also, three of us (myself and 2x sons in their early 20s) have enough C19. Our eldest son and I have had Long Covid since March/April 2020. And our youngest son was hospitalised for 5 days with rhabdomyolysis, a few weeks after his first/acute infection in 2020.
15/
As a baseline, all of us were 100% healthy before C19.
Increasingly, we are the generic post-Covid family. Nothing special. But now carrying the marks of this underestimated virus forever. & despite wearing N95 masks for the last 2+ years, we have had several reinfections.
As a baseline, all of us were 100% healthy before C19.
Increasingly, we are the generic post-Covid family. Nothing special. But now carrying the marks of this underestimated virus forever. & despite wearing N95 masks for the last 2+ years, we have had several reinfections.
17/
So how did we avoid getting infected this time around?
While nothing is foolproof, infection doesn't have to be inevitable. There's some luck involved, some timing, and the rest is diligence. & if you try all this & still get sick - you tried.
So how did we avoid getting infected this time around?
While nothing is foolproof, infection doesn't have to be inevitable. There's some luck involved, some timing, and the rest is diligence. & if you try all this & still get sick - you tried.
18/
This is what we did:
We live in a "tight"/Super Green house with a Heat Recovery System (HRV). When it gets really cold, we have to run the HRV on recirculate - 20mins fresh, 40 recirculate. (If we don't, the core of the HRV will freeze, & there'll be no ventilation).
This is what we did:
We live in a "tight"/Super Green house with a Heat Recovery System (HRV). When it gets really cold, we have to run the HRV on recirculate - 20mins fresh, 40 recirculate. (If we don't, the core of the HRV will freeze, & there'll be no ventilation).
19/
However, running it on recirculate would also have meant recirculating infectious aerosols back into the rest of the house, from the isolation bedroom/bathroom. Adding to the problem, there is still some concern over infectious fecal aerosols -
However, running it on recirculate would also have meant recirculating infectious aerosols back into the rest of the house, from the isolation bedroom/bathroom. Adding to the problem, there is still some concern over infectious fecal aerosols -
20/
"SARS-CoV-2 may also spread via fecal-oral and aerosol-borne routes" -
tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.10…
"SARS-CoV-2 may also spread via fecal-oral and aerosol-borne routes" -
tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.10…
21/
Therefore, we did the following:
(1) We blocked the HRV exit (not exhaust) in the geologist's bathroom.
(2) We also put a C-R in this bathroom, running it on low 24/7 with the bathroom door slightly closed to baffle the sound...
Therefore, we did the following:
(1) We blocked the HRV exit (not exhaust) in the geologist's bathroom.
(2) We also put a C-R in this bathroom, running it on low 24/7 with the bathroom door slightly closed to baffle the sound...
22/
...The C-R drew air (& infectious aerosols) from his bedroom into the bathroom, & that's where they ended.
(3) We placed a CO2 /Aranet4 monitor in the bedroom to check that the geologist was getting enough ventilation.
...The C-R drew air (& infectious aerosols) from his bedroom into the bathroom, & that's where they ended.
(3) We placed a CO2 /Aranet4 monitor in the bedroom to check that the geologist was getting enough ventilation.
23/
(4) We opened the window on the far side of his bedroom by just a few millimeters (again, it's winter in the Yukon).
(5) Outside the bedroom, I directed a fan at the gap at the bottom of the door sending air inside the geologist's quarters...
(4) We opened the window on the far side of his bedroom by just a few millimeters (again, it's winter in the Yukon).
(5) Outside the bedroom, I directed a fan at the gap at the bottom of the door sending air inside the geologist's quarters...
24/
...The idea was to create a bit of negative pressure like this:
"How to set up an emergency isolation room inside a home or apartment for a suspected infected occupant" -
healthyheating.com/2021.COVID.Res…
...The idea was to create a bit of negative pressure like this:
"How to set up an emergency isolation room inside a home or apartment for a suspected infected occupant" -
healthyheating.com/2021.COVID.Res…
25/
(6) Also, because our sons work outside the bedroom, I placed a C-R on the far end of this area, so that it would filter their air, without being close enough to the geologist's bedroom door to draw any infectious aerosols back out of the bedroom.
(6) Also, because our sons work outside the bedroom, I placed a C-R on the far end of this area, so that it would filter their air, without being close enough to the geologist's bedroom door to draw any infectious aerosols back out of the bedroom.
26/
During the geologist's self-isolation:
All of us nasal-rinsed in the morning and just before bed. Here's why -
medrxiv.org/content/10.110…
During the geologist's self-isolation:
All of us nasal-rinsed in the morning and just before bed. Here's why -
medrxiv.org/content/10.110…
27/
All of us gargled with mouthwash containing CPC in the morning and just before bed. Here's why -
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00…
All of us gargled with mouthwash containing CPC in the morning and just before bed. Here's why -
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00…
28/
The geologist did likewise just in case this helped lower his viral load & contagiousness. But whether there is a relationship between viral load & severity of C19 remains inconclusive -
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34904379/
The geologist did likewise just in case this helped lower his viral load & contagiousness. But whether there is a relationship between viral load & severity of C19 remains inconclusive -
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34904379/
29/
Now that the geologist is on the road to recovery, herewith several things we'll keep in mind:
Now that the geologist is on the road to recovery, herewith several things we'll keep in mind:
30/
(1) "Between 30 days and a year after recovery from COVID, survivors were 52% more likely to have a stroke, 63% more likely to have a heart attack, and 72% more likely to develop heart failure":
theconversation.com/even-mild-covi…
(1) "Between 30 days and a year after recovery from COVID, survivors were 52% more likely to have a stroke, 63% more likely to have a heart attack, and 72% more likely to develop heart failure":
theconversation.com/even-mild-covi…
31/
(2) "Immunological dysfunction persists for 8 months following initial mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection":
nature.com/articles/s4159…
(2) "Immunological dysfunction persists for 8 months following initial mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection":
nature.com/articles/s4159…
32/
And unfortunately (3), "The researchers found that vaccination seemed to reduce the likelihood of long COVID in people who had been infected by only about 15%":
nature.com/articles/d4158…
And unfortunately (3), "The researchers found that vaccination seemed to reduce the likelihood of long COVID in people who had been infected by only about 15%":
nature.com/articles/d4158…
33/
In sum, no kicksledding for the geologist just yet. Rest, pacing, and gentle walks. With C19 it's easy to rush recovery (to reassure oneself that it will happen) - only to relapse.
Nobody needs #LongCovid.
In sum, no kicksledding for the geologist just yet. Rest, pacing, and gentle walks. With C19 it's easy to rush recovery (to reassure oneself that it will happen) - only to relapse.
Nobody needs #LongCovid.
34/
@CorsIAQ
@JimRosenthal4
@DavidElfstrom
@kprather88
@KashPrime
@jvipondmd
@MoriartyLab
@CCHRC_Alaska
@elisaperego78
@CorsIAQ
@JimRosenthal4
@DavidElfstrom
@kprather88
@KashPrime
@jvipondmd
@MoriartyLab
@CCHRC_Alaska
@elisaperego78
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