(NaturalHealth365)  As we approach the two-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us wonder when the insanity will end.  These difficult times have brought us lost lives, lost businesses, lockdowns, school closures, mask mandates, jab mandates, and even a ridiculous social media ban of the phrase natural immunity.  (Meanwhile, Facebook recently admitted in court filings that fact-checker “facts” are nothing more than “protected opinion” – a sudden and rather convenient admission given that Facebook is being sued for defamation, and opinions cannot be the basis for defamation claims.)

Meanwhile, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public health officials continue to push jab mandates and injection propaganda – no doubt taking advantage of the latest coronavirus variant, Omicron, which appears by all estimates to be mild and commonly infecting fully jabbed people.  But one of the least talked about CDC guidelines could actually come ahead as an effective COVID mitigation strategy.

Improving indoor air ventilation could be key for preventing respiratory infections

In a November 19 article published by The Brownstone Institute, Steve Templeton, Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Indiana University School of Medicine, writes that “[COVID shots] may limit severe disease, which is important for vulnerable individuals, but are less effective at preventing infection and transmission than [natural immunity.]  Despite a lack of compelling evidence, many leaders continue mandating unproven and unnecessary restrictions on a COVID-fatigued population.”

Templeton continues, citing study after study, that “amidst these failures, one effective COVID-19 mitigation strategy stands out – improving indoor ventilation.”

After all, he points out, the outdoor transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is rare – a fact that has been known since early in the pandemic (“although this did not stop [sic] leaders from canceling outdoor events and mandating outdoor restrictions,” he adds).

Instead, outbreaks are predominantly linked to close gatherings inside poorly ventilated areas, which makes perfect sense given that the SARS-CoV-2 virus travels via airborne transmission.  And since these airborne viral particles can remain airborne for hours in small aerosolized particles, community facial coverings and the 6-foot physical distancing rule make less and less sense.

In comparison, well-ventilated, pressurized aircraft – which filter and fully replace cabin air every 2 to 3 minutes – are unlikely places for an individual to get infected.  (In other words: what’s helping on planes aren’t the masks – it’s the air filtration systems).

Templeton acknowledges some important and perhaps obvious barriers to improving indoor ventilation for nursing homes, schools, and other facilities – cost, buy-in, and even the possible adverse effects of the so-called hygiene hypothesis, in which children raised in “too clean” environments appear more likely to develop chronic inflammatory diseases.

But the attention in indoor ventilation appears too important and common-sense to ignore – especially in the era of increasingly demanding and divisive mandates.

Five tips to improve indoor air ventilation in your own home

Even the CDC outlines five practical and effective tips for improving indoor air quality and ventilation in the home.  These tips are useful whether there is a pandemic going on or not – so see how many you can implement if you’re not using them already:

1. Bring as much fresh air into the home as possible by opening windows and doors if it’s safe to do so.
2. Use your home’s HVAC system properly by ensuring you change the filter as instructed (usually, at least every three months) and set the fan to “on” instead of “auto” when visitors are over.
3. If you don’t have an HVAC filter, consider using a portable HEPA filter.
4. Use exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathrooms when you have visitors.
5. Use fans – ceiling fans are great, but you can also use floor or table fans – just be sure to point them toward an open window if possible and not toward people.
6. And, finally, let’s not forget the importance of indoor plants like Peace Lily and Bamboo Palm to clean up indoor air.

Sources for this article include:

Brownstone.org
Onlinelibrary.wiley.com
CDC.gov
Allsides.com
DMLP.org
JAMAnetwork.com