In the current climate of rising Covid-19 cases due to the supertransmissible variant of Omicron, it's important to take extra precautions to stay safe. One of the best ways to do this is to invest in an air purifier for your home office or shared living space. Air purifiers can help reduce the spread of airborne viruses, and the most effective ones contain a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are capable of capturing at least 99.97 percent of particles as small as 0.3 microns, including most airborne pathogens.
The CDC recommends HEPA filters for trapping particles that people breathe out when breathing, talking, singing, coughing and sneezing. While the FDA has not yet verified these claims, the results suggest that HEPA filters could be an effective way to capture and filter pathogens similar in size to coronavirus. When shopping for an air purifier, look for one with a three-stage filtration process that includes a HEPA filter. The Winix 5500-2 is a great option as it has a unique method of breaking down odors, allergens and other pollutants.
It also has a four-stage filtration system that uses a HEPA filter to remove 99.97 percent of airborne allergens as small as 0.3 microns. The Dyson Purifier Cool TP09 is another great choice as it not only has a H13 HEPA filter that is 99.95% efficient at removing particles down to 0.1 microns and 99.97 percent particles down to 0.3 microns, but it also works as a cooling fan when not working overtime as an expertly designed bacteria killer. It also has additional features such as hands-free voice control and in-app air quality monitoring. Finally, the Blue Pure 311 Auto is an excellent choice for medium-sized rooms such as bedrooms, living rooms or playrooms. It has a combination of filters that make it remarkably quiet, cleaning the air with a sound level equivalent to a gentle whisper (23-53 dB).
It also operates up to 40 percent more efficiently than standard models. So yes, HEPA filters can trap particles that contain coronavirus. People expel droplets of respiratory fluid, saliva, and possibly virus into the air when breathing, coughing, and talking. Even if the water in the droplet evaporates, the droplets contain salts, proteins, and other material in addition to any viruses, which means that the remaining particles are usually a few microns in size, making them quite easy to catch with a HEPA filter. Air purifiers that perform well in CR lab tests are good at filtering dust, smoke, and pollen from the air. Use the highest-efficiency particulate filter that the forced air system is able to handle without impeding airflows.
The HEPA filter is also treated with an antibacterial coating that reduces the risks of infection by replacing filters. It's easy to forget the occasional obligation to replace your purifier filters, so set up a calendar reminder.
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