Poor ventilation may be adding to nursing homes’ COVID-19 risks.

[2greys]

Over 2,000 active cases of COVID-19 and 245 resident deaths as of August 19 have been linked to aged care homes in Victoria, spread across over 120 facilities. The St Basil’s cluster alone now involves 191 cases. In New South Wales, 37 residents were infected at Newmarch House, leading to 17 deaths.

Why are so many aged care residents and staff becoming infected with COVID-19? New research suggests poor ventilation may be one of the factors. RMIT researchers are finding levels of carbon dioxide in some nursing homes that are more than three times the recommended level, which points to poor ventilation.

theconversation.com/poor-ve...

[SORRELHIPPO]

When I used to visit Nursing Homes, to treat the occasional patient, used to find them very stuffy and over hot. The reason seemed to be, some patients needed the extra heat, because the heating could only be regulated centrally, all rooms had to be over hot. When I said I had thermostats to my individual radiators at home (saves money) I used to get blank looks. There did seem to be a very old fashioned (out of the Ark) view, that fresh air was dangerous.

[Izb1 in reply to SORRELHIPPO]

I think care homes and hospitals seem to be adverse to letting fresh air in. I know people are old and sick but they still need fresh air x

[judes]

I’m always opening windows and getting fresh air in no matter what the weather. However, spent most of my career working in care homes, trying to open any windows was almost impossible residents would complain of a draft etc etc.

I did get crafty opening windows!

J