Since mid-December, the College of Optometrists has had various talks with the Scottish Government about aiding this medical sector with air filtration systems. Discussions have been held on the account of opticians needing to provide a safe space, free from COVID-19 and other airborne transmissions to their patients. Machines like air purifiers in settings such as optometry offices and other medical facilities are essential as a consequence of COVID-19 infections shown to be more prevalent in closed areas due to a lack of airflow.
Optometry consulting rooms are typically small; they lack windows; therefore, adequate air flow in these medical rooms is not the best. Furthermore, optometry clinicians spend most of their day near their patients due to the number of examinations they need to perform each day. Thus, proper ventilation is essential to guarantee the safety of patients and doctors while examinations are being held. In February 2022, the Scottish Government agreed on aiding the medical sector. The funding that will be sent, will allow optometry clinics to purchase air purifiers to limit the risk of respiratory infections spreading through the air.
Schools from all over the world have already returned to indoor learning. With the new COVID-19 variant Omicron, teachers, parents, students, and staff are anxious about the high risk of respiratory illnesses.
Last year, Scotland education spokesman Michael Marra urged the Scottish Government to use part of their funding to help schools’ poor ventilation systems. Scotland’s educational spokesman demanded the Government give every Scottish school a budget to invest in air purifiers. These machines will guarantee the safety of students and teachers in classrooms. To mitigate and ensure the safety of students and teachers, Mr. Marra suggested that classrooms should be equipped with at least two air purifiers. The urge for the budget was due to the need for proper school ventilation, especially during winter, when windows need to be closed. The opening of windows, he said, is not enough to guarantee the safety of getting infected; therefore, classrooms need to be equipped with air purifiers. A study by Harvard University highlights how air purifiers can eliminate COVID-19 and other air pollutants. It demonstrated that portable air purifiers could cut airborne viral transmission rates by 50%.
Moreover, high-efficiency particulate absorption (HEPA) filters could remove up to 80% of airborne viruses. By providing and highlighting the facts of the power air purifiers have, he later expressed to the Government that these devices were the solution to the COVID-19 infections in schools. “This is the best route to providing robust ventilation that will better protect health and, by limiting the spread of the virus, minimize potential further loss of time in schools for our children. It is the correct approach that the Government should back, and they should fund it in the Budget“. After months of debating, in August of 2021, Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, gladly announced that the Scottish Government will invest £10m in air purifiers for Scottish schools. In January 2022 it was announced that an extra £5m will be funded. After the big news, teachers from all over Scotland expressed their happiness and their feeling of safety on social media platforms such as Twitter. Nuzhat Uthmani, a teacher who has been advocating for improved classroom ventilation, tweeted: “It’s amazing how much we can achieve when we stand up for what we believe in!”
Scottish governments are aware of the importance of adequate ventilation in closed spaces, which is why they are aiding optometry centers and schools with air purifiers. As stated above, air purifiers are a reliable option due to their efficiency in removing pollutants and tiny particles from indoor air. Our multi-stage filtration medical-grade air purifiers, equipped with the most modern technology currently available on the market, set us apart from our competition. Each of our air purifiers guarantees the removal of 99.97% of harmful particles, bacteria, and viruses. We are the most affordable per CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) on the market as we belief that everyone should have access to clean indoor air. Our air purifiers are here to guarantee you fresh and clean indoor air.v
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