If you've ever been in a smokey bar, you probably know the benefit of an open window! In the early days, covid was thought to be primarily spread by heavy droplets that land on surfaces. We now know that covid is airborne and spreads like smoke. When we gather indoors, we face a greater likelihood of inhaling covid because it lingers in the air, even after a contagious person has left the room. To put it simply, you can catch covid anywhere that people have been breathing. That's why ventilation and filtration are of the utmost importance!

Many music events occur in poorly venilated spaces where it may not be possible to increase air flow from outside. Not only is covid more likely to hang in the air in poorly ventilated spaces, but the higher the CO2 concentration in a space, the slower covid is to break down. That's where HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters come in. HEPA filters scrub the air in a room and trap virus particles, so there is a decreased likelihood of people breathing them in. Similarly, MERV13 filters (normally used in HVAC systems) can be used to filter covid particles as well. MERV13 filters can be used to make CR boxes (a DIY air purifier consisting of MERV13 filters duct taped to a box fan). Air filters are awesome, but any increase in air filtration is better than nothing! Borrow a purifier, open a door or window, turn on a fan, create a cross breeze if you can! Five or Six air changes per hour is the magic number to aim for.

Some sources: Air filters work - EPA, CDC, OSHA, ASHRAE, & more agree, Do HEPA Filters Really Catch Coronavirus Particles?, Ventilation for Coronavirus in the Workplace.

You're breathing, aren't ya?! Air quality is a public health issue, and one that disproportionately affects already marginalized people. As artists and musicians, we rely on events for joy (and income)! We're notoriously underpaid and often underinsured; some of us are disabled and can't work "normal" jobs. It's safe to say that the effects of missed events/tour dates/etc are sorely felt. Cleaning the air reduces the likelihood of getting sick, which means we get to gig another day. Covid is the great ruiner of plans! And each reinfection puts us at greater risk of developing long covid, which can cause longterm disability and even death. Air filtration is a huge means of harm reduction for our communities. We keep us safe.

It is important to acknowledge that many events that offer air purification will still not be accessible to the most vulnerable, but normalizing air purification can do some good while nudging the culture in the right direction. If you need a risk run-down or access info for a Clean Air Oly event, please don't hesitate to reach out! Please also feel free to suggest additional accessability accomodations, and I'll see what I can do! While I am not personally an organizer for most of these events, I want the events I am involved with to be as accessible as possible.

Clean Air Oly may primarily lend air purifiers for public events, but they're also available for private events and personal use! The library currently has one small, lightweight, portable air purifier that anyone can borrow for medical appointments, use on public transit, etc. I'm happy to deliver purifiers to house-bound folks for doctors appointments and the like.

Layered protections are the cumulative actions we can take to reduce the spread of covid. The best mitigation strategies we have available include air changes and wearing high quality masks (such as KN95s and N95s). Other precautions include getting vaxxed & staying up to date with boosters.

We can also be calculated about the risks we take! Certain activities come with a greater risk of catching covid, and you can plan accordingly. For instance, if you know you're going to be traveling, you might lay low for a period of time when you get back, mask in public places if you weren't already, and test a handful of times before attending any gatherings where you may unwittingly infect others (asymptomatic spread is totally a thing!). Similarly, it's a good idea to isolate and test if you know you've been exposed to covid, or are experiencing symptoms. If you don't mask all the time, you can at least mask when you're in public places that other people have no choice but to be (doctors office, pharmacy, grocery store, public transit, etc).

There is some emerging research that shows certain nasal sprays and CPC mouthwash can be effective at reducing the amount of virus in your nose/mouth respectively. It's early days, but these are additional layers of protection you might consider adding to your routine (this is a link to my personal list of research/stuff, none of these companies are paying me/I am not a medical professional!).