People who know how to protect themselves will generally be happy to do so. Of course, you will have to help, steer and enforce in public and high-risk places. If the indoor climate everywhere, from clubs to nursing homes, is brought into line with the knowledge gained, we will be relieved of the annual unmanageable flu peaks and associated care shortages.
For example, you could say that Corona will save tens of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of people from an early death (an average of 6,500 people per year). Simply because seasonal influences are mitigated. So they do die, and probably also from the flu, but more spread over the year. Every disadvantage has its advantage.
Ventilation: start with a CO2 meter
For heaven's sake, don't listen to Rutte with his "Open the windows for fifteen minutes a day". Start with a CO2 meter and gain experience with it. For the time being, you will have to take it with you everywhere, until everyone has such a thing in the house.
Below you can see two identical meters under identical conditions with CO2 levels 843 and 606. (The top values are the CO2 values). Of course, that is not right. They are Chinese budget devices of about € 50,-. Don't pay too much attention to the absolute value that such a thing indicates, especially if you take a cheap one.
The meters do not indicate the virus content but the presence of exhaled air, or possibly contaminated breath. The higher the top number, the worse the air quality. The government recently called these devices "ventilation meters" in an attempt at originality, but the devices actually do exactly the opposite. They are rather "contamination risk meters" or "stagnant air meters". The higher the number, the greater the risk of infection. From this you can deduce: the worse the ventilation.
The calibration doesn't matter much: you know from your own device what it indicates in the open air. Apart from the absolute difference, the rises and falls of both devices are neatly the same. The standard outside air level should be 500. If your meter outside shows 700, then you add 200 in the diagram below (intended for schools) (or you figure out how to calibrate it). Or buy a more expensive device. The diagram below comes from the site of Maurice de Hond.
Of course, the difference between those two devices shouldn't be that big. That way they just get into the country. Would it be the same with scales, or with timers on microwaves, thermometers and so on? Or with thermostats, sprinkler systems, battery voltage, safety belts or fire extinguishers? I actually thought there were ISO and DIN standards for that.
We should perhaps start taking air quality a little more seriously, similar to fire hazards: with certifications, controls, unmistakable regulations, liability, insurance options. If only there were CO2 meters with an RIVM stamp on them... Or well not necessarily rivm actually 😉.
You can find more tips for quick adequate self-protection here
I thought this demo was funny:
