Sports columnist brought low by the virus; we can learn from this

I started the day intending to write about something other than the pandemic. Then I read Bill Plaschke’s column in this morning’s Los Angeles Times. He caught the covid-19 illness. He lives to tell about the experience. It was a tough one. I don’t want to go through the same thing, and neither do you. Read his story.

Wearing face masks and using hand sanitizer are commonplace. Wearing gloves, too, for some people. What else can and should be done?

Risks are unavoidable, but they can be mitigated. I see employees in restaurants and stores being vigilant about cleaning just-vacated tables and often-touched surfaces, wearing face masks and maintaining distance. Patrons and visitors are generally respectful, supportive and well-behaved (with some unfortunately glaring exceptions).

But we all share the same air, inside the closed confines of buildings. Air cannot be cleaned with a few swipes of disinfectant and a cleaning cloth. This insidious pathogen is taking advantage of that fact—living things have an imperative to perpetuate the species, and a virus is a living thing—in ways that are better understood now than just a couple of months ago.

Scientists and practitioners working in environmental engineering are providing some ideas on mitigating airborne risks. Some of these ideas came to my attention recently in an article written by Linsey C. Marr, a professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Virginia Tech University.

This isn’t a substitute for reading Dr. Marr’s article, but here is a summary of the highlights:

The virus is much more easily airborne than previously-recognized.
Standard exhalation is enough to launch the virus (coughing and sneezing not required).
The hazard of infection due to close-range contact with simple exhalation is greater than early studies had implied.
Good indoor ventilation (in addition to masks and distance) is preventative.
Consider upgrades to ventilation systems, such as: Better filters; germicidal ultraviolet air cleaners; portable air cleaners.

We all just want to feel safe and stay safe. Using knowledge and tools as described in Dr. Marr’s article can help to accomplish those things. Businesses and organizations that do this are more likely to prosper than those that do not.

Garry Herron

Chief Business & Economics Advisor

A lifelong resident of Southern California and a UCLA graduate, Garry Herron's experience with business and economics spans a first career in big business and a second career in small business. Now retired from both enterprises he volunteers his time to help others, especially students enrolled at local institutions of public higher education. He has found that combining four decades' worth of experiences in business with research on how national and global economics impact business success is key to helping college students transition from education to career.

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