Ouderenorganisatie KBO-PCOB pleit voor ventilatiecheck in verpleeghuizen

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KBO-PCOB pleit voor laagdrempeliger testen en ventilatiecheck in verpleeghuizen. Dit om de verspreiding van Covid-19 tegen te gaan. Wij denken dat het belangrijk is om continue luchtvochtigheid, temperatuur, volatiele deeltjes als CO2 te meten.

Ventilatiecheck

“Daarnaast worden niet alleen binnen scholen maar ook binnen verpleeghuizen vraagtekens gezet bij de betrouwbaarheid van de ventilatiesystemen als het gaat om verspreiding van aerosolen via zo’n systeem. KBO-PCOB dringt er daarom op aan dat ventilatiesystemen bij verpleeghuizen voor 1 oktober gecheckt worden door uitbreiding van de taken van het Landelijk Coördinatieteam Ventilatie op Scholen. Vanderkaa:“In verpleeghuizen verblijven kwetsbare mensen, daar moet de luchtkwaliteit goed zijn. Het mag niet zo zijn dat bewoners gevaar lopen door ondeugdelijke ventilatiesystemen.”” (KBO-PCOB website)

Belang luchtkwaliteit: continue check

Wij denken dat het wenselijk is dat de luchtkwaliteit continue gecheckt wordt. Niet alleen vanwege Covid-19. Ook om te zorgen dat de luchtkwaliteit goed is vanwege de kwetsbaarheid van oudere mensen.  Om zo de verspreiding van andere virussen zo goed mogelijk tegen te gaan. Daarnaast kan een slecht binnenklimaat leiden tot klachten als niezen, hoofdpijn, duizeligheid. Ook kunnen allergieën en astma worden verergerd. Een oplossing als Airmex meet zowel luchtvochtigheid, temperatuur, volatiele deeltjes als CO2.

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Chance of Covid-19: indeed smaller by keeping social distance, larger group meetings lead to more infections

National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) research: chance of contracting corona indeed smaller by keeping distance (retrieved from Dagblad van het Noorden, in Dutch). People who adhere to the advice to keep 1.5 meters distance from others, run less risk of contracting the corona virus. That is the outcome of a study conducted by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). It shows that “social distancing is an important measure to stop the spread of the virus,” says the RIVM.

Infection rate 27 Percent lower by keeping social distance

The researchers analyzed data from 7,000 people who filled out regular questionnaires about their contacts during the first corona wave. Their blood was also tested for antibodies, which can be used to show that someone has been in contact with the virus. At the time, 5.5 percent of the people who did not follow the distance rules had antibodies in their blood. Of the participants who said they did, 4 percent made antibodies. Thus, among those who kept their distance, the infection rate was 27 percent lower.

Large group meetings lead to more infections

Large group meetings also lead to more infections, the study shows. Of the people who indicated that they had attended a meeting in an indoor space with more than 20 people, 6.2 percent were found to have antibodies in their blood. That percentage was one and a half times higher than among people who indicated that they had not attended any meetings at all.

1 in 5 of blood donors have antibodies

Meanwhile, many more people have antibodies in their blood. A random sample from the Sanquin blood bank recently showed that this concerns more than one in five blood donors. Among them are also people who have been vaccinated.

The research results of the RIVM were published in the scientific journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. They also show that people who had particularly close contact with children under the age of 10 hardly became infected with the virus. “There were no more antibodies in the blood of these participants than in participants who indicated they had no contact at all.”

New virus variants, such as the British variant that is now dominant, did not exist when the study was conducted. “Precisely because of the higher infectivity of these variants, it is important to keep a sufficient distance,” says the RIVM.

Covid Buzzer helps to keep social distance

Social Distancing, wearing a mouth mask, proper marking and hand washing help prevent the spread of Covid-19. Solutions like the Covid Buzzer help maintain social distance.

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Covid 19 at half of elementary schools, classes sent home

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More than half (51 percent) of all elementary school in the Netherlands sent one or more classes home last week because of Covid 19.

“The AVS estimates that nearly 220,000 elementary school students were quarantined at home, out of a total of about 1.6 million students. According to the poll, 1.3 percent of elementary schools were forced to close completely because of corona attacks ” (Metro Nieuws)

Staffing shortage

Metro continues: “According to President Petra van Haren, the pressure is on school leaders. ‘They are constantly looking for substitutes to prevent children from having to go home,” she says. Of the school leaders who participated in the survey, 60 percent had to use substitutes last week. “Because of the staffing shortage, that’s not easy,’ Van Haren says.”

1 Child infected, whole class at home

If in a class a child or teacher is infected with the coronavirus, the entire class must go home. For at least five days as a precaution. Unless they work in small groups that are not close to each other. In most elementary schools, however, this does not happen. Many schools find it practically unworkable. Those who get tested five days after contact with the infected child and get a negative result may return to school. Children who do not test may return to school only after ten days, provided they have no symptoms.

How sensors help

Sensors like the Airmex help monitor air quality to ensure that the Covid 19 virus is as inactive as possible. And to ensure that temperature and humidity levels are optimal for a pleasant stay and an optimal environment for performance. They also measure CO2. CO2 is another important air quality parameter.

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COVID Buzzer tested at Johan Cruijff ArenA Tour

Advanced Solutions Nederland and partners deploy Covid Buzzer, a social distancing solution at Amsterdam Johan Cruijff Arena (in Dutch):

Before the lockdown, the COVID Buzzer was extensively tested at the Johan Cruijff ArenA Tour. Even when the stadium doors reopen, the COVID Buzzer will contribute to safe tour attendance during times of COVID-19. The buzzer is a device that vibrates and flashes when someone comes within 1.5 meters of it based on Ultra-Wideband technology. An innovation that can also contribute to safe attendance at games and concerts.

Read more about the Covid Buzzer

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How Indoor Humidity effects your feeling of well-being and health

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For feeling comfortable indoor, humidity is one of the most important factors, both physical and mentally. Where temperature is immediately perceived (‘cold in here’), humidity is also one of the most important factors for feeling comfortable indoors. Besides, temperature and humidity go hand-in-hand. Besides, humidity plays a factor in the growth of molds and other allergens.

Indoor air humidity

Humidity is the concentration of water vapor present in the air. Humidity depends on the temperature and pressure. Warm air is able to bind more water than cold. The same amount of water vapor results in higher humidity in cool air than warm air. So, humidity is also important how we experience the temperature. Many measurements of humidity consist of relative humidity: how much water there is in the air relative to the maximum of water it can contain given the same temperature. Regulation the indoor humidity and temperature go together.

Effect of humidity on well-being and health

Humans are more sensitive to changes in temperature than in relative humidity. However, humidity is an important factor in thermal comfort: the condition of mind that expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment. Outdoor, humidity has a much stronger influence at higher than at low temperatures.

Human bodies use evaporative cooling to regulate temperate as primary mechanism. The rate of which perspiration evaporates on the skin is under humid conditions lower than in arid ones. Humans feel warmer at a relative high humidity, because humans perceive the rate of heat transfer from the body rather than the temperature itself.

High humidity (‘humid air’) or low humidity (‘dry air’) can have negative effects on well-being and health. You can feel some effects immediately and they disappear when the humidity is adjusted (or when you leave the room), some effects may rise years later.

Effects of dry air

Dry air may cause:

  • Dry eyes
  • Chapped lips
  • Bloody nose
  • Itching of the nose
  • Irritation of the skin
  • Allergy problems and asthma

Tissue lining of the nasal passages may dry and crack due to low humidity. Besides, it may become more susceptible to penetration of the rhinovirus cold viruses. Very low humidity not only may create discomfort, but respiratory problems and aggravate allergies.

When humidity drops below 20%, it may cause eye irritation.

Dry air during winter

You have probably experienced yourself: at winter, indoor air quality is often rather dry. When temperature decreases under 0°C, relative humidity can drop to 20%. However, ‘good’ indoor humidity should be between 20 and 40%. Especially in winter, a humidity above 30% is preferred to reduce the change that the nasal passages dry out.

The cause of dry air is often the room temperature. That’s why room temperature should be kept under 22°C (72°F).

Humid air

Some effects of humid air indoor:

  • Fatigue
  • Frizzy hair
  • Feeling hot or sweaty
  • Sleep interruptions
  • Respiratory problems
  • Allergy problems and asthma

As said above, some people may suffer respiratory problems. Some of these problems may be related to conditions as asthma or may be caused due to anxiety. Many people hyperventilate as response. This causes feelings such as loss of concentration, numbness or faintness.

Humid air during summer

During summer, the ideal indoor humidity is between 30% to 50%, following the high humidity outside. In any case, constant humidity must be kept under 60%, to prevent the growth of microbes.

Humid air during winter

In some cases, the indoor humidity may rise above 45% during winter. Mostly this is caused by human activity with poor ventilation. The most immediate visible effect is condensing on cold surfaces as windows. When there is often the case of humid air, condense may affect the structure of the building and can cause health problems.

Solutions like Airmex can help you to monitor your humidity, for a comfortable, safe and healthy working environment.

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The Importance of Indoor Air Quality

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Did you ever wonder where you are most exposed to air pollution? Somewhere outside, you say? Wrong, you breath the most polluted air… indoors! Research shows, that people spend 90% of their time indoors. Isolation and modern heating have brought us comfy, warm indoor environments: home, work, recreation, etc., with no cold air coming from under the doors. However, in many buildings there is a downside. With the tightly enclosed indoor environments, pollution caused indoors or coming from outside has no opportunity to mingle with fresh air. For viruses, heat and certain levels of immunity are perfect environments to stay active. Besides, the Covid-19 virus is spreading.

Indoor concentration of pollution often 2 to 5 times higher than outdoor

Research on the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) site shows:

  • “Americans, on average, spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors,1 where the concentrations of some pollutants are often 2 to 5 times higher than typical outdoor concentrations.2
  • People who are often most susceptible to the adverse effects of pollution (e.g., the very young, older adults, people with cardiovascular or respiratory disease) tend to spend even more time indoors.3
  • Indoor concentrations of some pollutants have increased in recent decades due to such factors as energy-efficient building construction (when it lacks sufficient mechanical ventilation to ensure adequate air exchange) and increased use of synthetic building materials, furnishings, personal care products, pesticides, and household cleaners.”

Why is air quality important?

You probably know the irritation of eyes or a dry troath yourself. Indoor air pollution can have serious health effects, ranging from irritation of your eyes to respiratory diseases:

  • Irritation of the throat, nose and eyes, such as a dry throat
  • Headaches, dizziness, and fatigue
  • Respiratory diseases, heart disease, and cancer

Indoor concentration of pollution often 2 to 5 times higher than outdoor

“The link between some common indoor air pollutants (e.g., radon, particle pollution, carbon monoxide, Legionella bacterium) and health effects is very well established.

  • Radon is a known human carcinogen and is the second leading cause of lung cancer.4, 5
  • Carbon monoxide is toxic, and short-term exposure to elevated carbon monoxide levels in indoor settings can be lethal.6
  • Episodes of Legionnaires’ disease, a form of pneumonia caused by exposure to the Legionella bacterium, have been associated with buildings with poorly maintained air conditioning or heating systems.7, 8
  • Numerous indoor air pollutants—dust mites, mold, pet dander, environmental tobacco smoke, cockroach allergens, particulate matter, and others—are “asthma triggers,” meaning that some asthmatics might experience asthma attacks following exposure.9

While adverse health effects have been attributed to some specific pollutants, the scientific understanding of some indoor air quality issues continues to evolve. …

One example is “sick building syndrome,” which occurs when building occupants experience similar symptoms after entering a particular building, with symptoms diminishing or disappearing after they leave the building. These symptoms are increasingly being attributed to a variety of building indoor air attributes.

Researchers also have been investigating the relationship between indoor air quality and important issues not traditionally thought of as related to health, such as student performance in the classroom and productivity in occupational settings.10”

Solutions like the Covid Airmex can help you to monitor your temperature, humidity, tvoc and co2, for a safe and healthy working environment

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Netherlands in lockdown due to spread of Covid-19: where did it go wrong?

As of today, the Netherlands is in a hard lockdown. The Dutch Newspaper AD: “For a long time a hard lockdown was something for other countries, we did it ‘intelligently’ or ‘partially’. But now the cabinet takes the big hammer and the Netherlands is almost completely locked up for a month. Where did it go wrong?


The AD mentions 4 reasons:

  1. Behavior: the pure fear is gone
  2. Schools: ‘children perhaps underestimated
  3. Seasonal effect: ‘Definitely plays along’.
  4. Policy: ‘Too slow, too late

Social Distance


The article mentions that in the beginning of the year many people stayed at home. Because of fear of getting corona themselves. Now it turns out that not everyone with covid-19 immediately comes to the ICU, this fear has disappeared. In addition, people are stretched to comply with the rules of conduct.

People stay at home much often: they travel and shop more and are more often physcial at work. At the same time, social distance is not always taken into account: in addition to staying at home as much as possible, maintaining the social distance remains one of the main ways to prevent the spread of covid.

Another reason is that the spread of Covid among children, especially those between the ages of 12 and 18, is underestimated. 8.5% of the last week’s traceable sources of infection could be traced back to school or child care. In addition, it is difficult to get a grip on the spread among young people: most of them have no or only mild symptoms. As a result, they can spread corona within the family and further, which in turn can infect vulnerable groups such as the elderly.

Seasonal effect

The article: “Weather and climate play a role, says Osterhaus, even if he doesn’t dare hang a weight on it. “The combination of temperature, UV light and humidity counts, I’m sure. What’s more, we’re more indoors when it’s cold and we’re more likely to cough at each other. But we don’t know yet how big the seasonal effect is. The fact is that even in warm countries this virus still causes problems”.


Policy too slow?

“Osterhaus has been saying it for months, ic figurehead Diederik Gommers also argued last weekend: the government must react more quickly to the curve of the virus. That means intervening harder when numbers increase, but also more flexibly when the corona slows down a bit”.


We don’t dare saying whether the policy was too slow. Still: if the Dutch had kept the measures at home as much as possible and maintained social distance, there would probably have been no need for lockdown.

Advanced Solutions Netherlands helps to maintain social distance at work, public buildings and schools. Especially in situations where the social distance is sometimes forgotten, a covid buzzer can help. In addition, the Covid Airmex has been developed: a device that checks whether the temperature, humidity, volatiles and co2 are optimal to prevent the spread of the covid virus as much as possible.

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How CO2 threatens well-being, productivity and health at office work

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High levels of CO2 at office or home may evoke nuisance, fatigue, headaches and dizziness. It lessens your productivity and general feeling of well-being.

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‘Corona vaccine 90 percent effective’: end of Covid-19?

Pfizer announces that its COVID-19 vaccine is 90% effective, based on tests with 44,000 people. The vaccine may be available by the end of the year. Is this the end of covid-19? Thereby, Pfizer herself stresses that the results are based on the third stage of testing. And that testing stage hasn’t been completed yet. We have analyzed the reactions of experts on this news.

The good news: hope on a working vaccine

Obviously, a vaccine that works against corona is good news anyhow. How good, is another question. While most experts say that they can judge the vaccine really if tests are completed and the underlying data is available, most experts are possitive about the news

How good is the vaccine?

Analyzing the reactions of experts, some of important questions to judge the effectiveness of the new vaccine are:

  • what is the duration of protection?
  • is the vaccine protecting the elderly, since the immune system weakens with age?
  • Does the vaccine protect from spreading the virus?
  • ‘scientific questions’ and logistics

What is the duration of protection?

In this stage, it is unclear what the duration of the protection is. Of course, the vaccine is still in its testing stage. Besides, our knowledge of covid-19 has much improved since the outbreak. But due to the youth of this virus, we still know little about it. In the ideal world, we would have a vaccine which would protect a lifetime. If it doesn’t, how long will the protection last?

Is the vaccine protecting the elderly?

It remains unclear if the vaccine is protecting the elderly as well as youthful people. The elderly and weak persons would benefit the most of a working vaccine. They have the largest risk of getting seriously ill. Leading to hospital or even death. But: as age increases, the immune system weakens. The BBC explains this in this article…

Does the vaccine protect from spreading the virus?

The third point which is unclear, is if the vaccine only protects the injected person from getting ill. Or that it protects the vaccinated from spreading the virus as well.

‘Scientific’ questions and logistics

The fourth question are some ‘scientific’ questions and logistics. Many experts state that they need to see the data first before they can make a real judgement (and again: also, Pfizer emphasizes that their message is based on testing results). Besides there’s the point of logistics: when there will be final proof of the effectiveness, Pfizer won’t be able to produce the vaccine for the whole world immediately. So, countries who have bought already the vaccine will go first. Probably, the weak and caretakers will be vaccinated first.

Science Media Centre has collected “reactions to pfizer and biontech reporting interim results from phase 3 covid-19 vaccine trial in this article. We quote from this article the reaction of Prof Jonathan Ball, Professor of Molecular Virology, University of Nottingham: “It’s great news that the Pfizer vaccine is reported to be 90% effective, but it’s important to understand what that means.  For a vaccine to be truly effective it needs to protect those most vulnerable from suffering severe COVID-19 or prevent those less vulnerable from becoming infected and then transmitting the virus to others.  Simply reducing the appearance of symptoms in people who would otherwise have experienced mild infection, is unlikely to have a major benefit.  Indeed, in a worst-case scenario if vaccinated people become infected with the virus and assume they are protected it might mean they can still spread the virus asymptomatically.  Vaccines will be incredibly important in our battle against this virus, but we need to be assured that they will perform as we would hope.”

Following the Covid-19 measures remain important

We believe that, at least before there is a working vaccine largely available, following the Covid-19 measures remain important, such as: wash your hands regularly, wear a mouth mask and keep the social distance. Find out how a Covid buzzer can help you with keeping the social distance here.

Used sources

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Covid cases Greece are rocketing

Where Greece had one of the least Covid cases per million citizens at the beginning of july, the number of cases is rocketing since the end of July/beginning of August. From the 5,623 cases, “1,438 are considered to be related to travel from abroad and 2,705 are related to an already known case. Greece recorded 203 new cases of COVID-19 in 24 hours, the single largest daily number of cases since the pandemic began.” (Greek City Times, 10th August).

Covid cases Greece

Initially, Greece had a large success fighting the coronavirus by an early lockdown in March. Since half June, some lockdown measures have been lifted. The daily cases have steeply increased. ““We must say that the increase in cases is mainly due to the relaxation of compliance to the measures within our country in July. And I believe we all have a responsibility for it. Only 10% of cases are imported, most cases at the moment are domestic,” he (Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis) continued.” (Greek City Times) “Authorities sealed a popular beach bar on Mykonos island after seven employees tested positive for the virus, Skai tv reported, while officials on Ikaria island intervened in a village celebration with dozens of people.” (Anadoulu Agency). Further, the Covid probably spread from travel to and from Balkan countries, which have a high number of cases.

Travel, tests and measures

Out of the 124 cases Saturday, 29 cases where noticed at one of the country’s entrance gates. Because Covid cases were low at the time, Greece began to consider how Greece could be re-opened in May. That meant lifting the non-travel and quarantine regulations. Instead, persons entering Greece are tested on Covid.

Since August 1, the Police have fined 2,042 persons for violating the Covid regulations, 57 shops were shut. “Parties at Chersonissos: ‘We’ve been drinking and cramming on each other every night’” headlines the AD, a newspaper in the Netherlands.

Some measures have already been taken: on Thursday, restrictive measures were imposed on the island of Poros in the Saronic Gulf. At Amplelonas (in Central Greece) measures were taken following the infections on a wedding. These measures included the suspension of events, religious processions and open markets. (Neokosmos)

Last Friday, Nikos Hardalias (Deputy Minister for Civil Protection & Crisis Management) announced the following measures:

  • As of August 12, visitors coming from Malta are required to show proof of a Covid-19 negative molecular test (PCR) taken up to 72 hours prior to arriving in Greece.
  • Following a relevant recommendation of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, all processions are suspended indefinitely, as are all rural trade fairs.
  • The measure of banning standing customers in all nightclubs, bars, restaurants and live music venues, currently in effect, is extended until August 31

Earlier that week, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed the importance of the ‘national vaccine’: “which is nothing more than our ‘philotimo’ and together we must follow the measures indicated by the experts and I am sure that if we do we will emerge victorious from this difficult battle as well.”

Find out how the Covid Buzzer can help social distancing

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