Do you remember the early days of the pandemic when we put our groceries just inside the front door so we could spray them down with anti-bacterial before placing them in the pantry? When playgrounds shut down for fear they could help spread the virus? It seems like only yesterday, but we’ve learned a lot since those first few days in March 2020.
The biggest thing we learned about the spread and subsequent risks of the coronavirus was that it rarely spreads via surfaces. It spreads through tiny droplet transmissions through the air.
According to the Center for Disease Control (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/science-and-research/surface-transmission.html), “the principal mode by which people are infected with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes Covid-19) is through exposure to respiratory droplets carrying infections virus. It is possible for people to be infected through contact with contaminated surfaces or objects, but the risk is generally considered to be low.”
Furthermore, a study (https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acscentsci.1c01369) conducted by the University of Utah found the aerosol droplets that help the virus spread through the air can actually block it from later infecting someone via surfaces once that liquid dries.
While we don’t claim to be virologists or to have a definitive answer based on findings from the full range of studies (nobody does), what we can say, and what scientific consensus says, echoes the guidance put forth by the CDC. The SARS-CoV-2 virus is largely spread through the air with the risks being greatly reduced as they relate to surfaces. This means it’s more important than ever to ensure air is properly ventilated, even as the pandemic appears to (hopefully) be winding down.
While we should still employ proper safety standards like hand washing, vaccinations, physical distancing, and masking when these tools make sense, the reality is we’re entering a new world where what we formerly knew as normal is slowly returning. For preventative measures and for customer safety, foodservice operations should consider air purification systems, not just for Covid-19 prevention, but also because the right air purification system can do much more than just stop the spread of the coronavirus. From the common cold to other unwanted airborne particulates, air purification systems provide great security for guests and staff alike.
Which air purification systems work best?
The reality is there are many technologies on the market that provide air purification services for foodservice operators. For a variety of reasons, Bluezone by Middleby is widely seen as an industry leader.
Using patented UV-C technology, air is pulled into Bluezone units where it encounters ultraviolet light that kills up to 99.9995 percent of all unwanted particles, including the virus that causes Covid-19. Bluezone recently received clearance (https://bluezone.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Bluezone-by-Middleby-Model-450-FDA-Clearance-Press-Reslease.pdf) from the Food and Drug Administration, and it’s also the air purification system of choice for groups like the United States military and the Israeli Ministry of Health, one of the world’s leading organizations when it comes to virus mitigation.
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Create your own Bluezone
A Bluezone is a space where customers and staff can feel safe knowing the air they’re breathing is as safe as possible. If you’re interested in learning just how easy it is to create and maintain a Bluezone, contact us today.
