HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — Schools and businesses are slowly starting to fully open back up, but with COVID still out there, it's important we stay vigilant to prevent the spread.
Research shows indoor spaces with poor ventilation are some of the highest risk places for spreading COVID-19. When there's not much ventilation, the virus can stay in the air longer.
Huntsville Hospital Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Ali Hassoun, said, "If you don't have good ventilation, imagine the virus will stay for about 2 to 3 hours and whoever is in that area, they're going to be inhaling that virus."
Now that the CDC is easing social distancing guidelines for schools and Alabama is rolling back it's restrictions, Dr. Hassoun says schools and businesses should ensure they have good ventilation.
"If you don't have yet good ventilation and you're waiting to fix it, because I think it still needs to be fixed, you better have, for example, the window open," said Dr. Hassoun.
Experts say air in a room should be exchanged at least six times every hour through a filtration system to be considered "healthy." While simply cracking a door or opening a window to the outside won't work as well as a good ventilation system, it can help circulate air and prevent more spread.
Dr. Hassoun said, "If you circulate the air, you're going to reduce that stagnant virus sitting up there where students or teachers might inhale it if they stay inside."
If you're in a room that can't get much outside air, you can use an air purifier to help get rid of virus particles. An air purifier alone isn't enough to protect people from COVID-19 which is why masks are still recommended.
With Alabama is still seeing new COVID cases every day, doctors say it's not time to let our guard down yet. The vaccine rollout is ramping up, but doctors say we've not vaccinated enough people yet to reach herd immunity.
Although Alabama's mask mandate expires on April 9, Dr. Hassoun says it's essential businesses and workplaces continue to require masks after that date.
Dr. Hassoun said, "I really encourage every business to continue the masking and get their customers, their employees to wear the mask. They shouldn't be taking it off. It's just too soon, too early."
Even with a good filtration system, Dr. Hassoun says masks will be necessary for a while longer.
WEB EXTRA: Infectious Disease Specialist talks about ventilation in preventing the spread of COVID-19