Shopping centres are calling to allow operation of all stores with mechanical ventilation
Today, The Alliance of Real Estate Developers, on behalf of the largest shopping centres in Latvia, have sent a letter to the Health Minister of Latvia, Daniels Pavļuts, calling on him to allow the operation of all stores that are able to ensure epidemiological safety in shopping premises by means of mechanical ventilation. The letter points out that air quality plays an important role in preventing the spread of Covid-19 indoors, and that the World Health Organization specifies that building ventilation systems play an important role in improving air quality. The small stores who are allowed to operate at the moment often have poorer quality ventilation than large shopping centres that have thoroughly planned, built, and professionally maintained mechanical ventilation systems that are able to provide an epidemiologically safe environment.
In the letter sent to the Health Minister, The Alliance of Real Estate Developers (NĪAA) points out several scientific conclusions that confirm the substantial impact of ventilation on the quality of air indoors, which helps to restrict the spread of the virus. The World Health Organization has pointed out that insufficiently ventilated premises pose a higher risk to contracting Covid-19, and that building ventilation systems play an important role in improving the air quality, therefore reducing the spread of the virus indoors.[1] Researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology analysing the spread of Covid-19 indoors, specify that it is safer to be in premises with higher air volume and higher ventilation speed.[2] Meanwhile, researchers from the UK (Environmental and Modelling group) admit that measurements of CO2 levels can be used as indicators for poor air ventilation.[3]
“Shopping centres from an epidemiological point of view are safer for shopping than the small stores. All of the largest shopping centres in Latvia are equipped with professional, powerful air ventilation systems that are serviced by knowledgeable specialists. The power of air ventilation systems in shopping centres is even so high that full air circulation in the premises takes only 20 minutes. So all of the air in the shopping centre is changed up to 3 times per hour, ensuring that most of the potential virus particles are discharged from the building. Thus, very low levels of CO2 are kept in the shopping premises with the help of ventilation systems, on average 395 to 660 ppm.[4] We invite the Ministry of Health to make decisions that are scientifically proven and based on facts, enabling operation of every store that provides an epidemiologically safe shopping environment,” Chairman of the Board of the Alliance of Real Estate Developers (NĪAA) Mārtiņš Vanags points out in the letter.
About the NĪAA
The Alliance of Real Estate Developers brings together the most significant players of the industry in order to achieve the sustainable development of the real estate industry, represent it in a collective manner on a state and local government level, as well as emphasise the role of real estate developers and investors within the economy of Latvia.
For further information:
Mārtiņš Vanags - Alliance of Real Estate Developers (NĪAA)
martins.vanags@niaa.lv
In the letter sent to the Health Minister, The Alliance of Real Estate Developers (NĪAA) points out several scientific conclusions that confirm the substantial impact of ventilation on the quality of air indoors, which helps to restrict the spread of the virus. The World Health Organization has pointed out that insufficiently ventilated premises pose a higher risk to contracting Covid-19, and that building ventilation systems play an important role in improving the air quality, therefore reducing the spread of the virus indoors.[1] Researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology analysing the spread of Covid-19 indoors, specify that it is safer to be in premises with higher air volume and higher ventilation speed.[2] Meanwhile, researchers from the UK (Environmental and Modelling group) admit that measurements of CO2 levels can be used as indicators for poor air ventilation.[3]
“Shopping centres from an epidemiological point of view are safer for shopping than the small stores. All of the largest shopping centres in Latvia are equipped with professional, powerful air ventilation systems that are serviced by knowledgeable specialists. The power of air ventilation systems in shopping centres is even so high that full air circulation in the premises takes only 20 minutes. So all of the air in the shopping centre is changed up to 3 times per hour, ensuring that most of the potential virus particles are discharged from the building. Thus, very low levels of CO2 are kept in the shopping premises with the help of ventilation systems, on average 395 to 660 ppm.[4] We invite the Ministry of Health to make decisions that are scientifically proven and based on facts, enabling operation of every store that provides an epidemiologically safe shopping environment,” Chairman of the Board of the Alliance of Real Estate Developers (NĪAA) Mārtiņš Vanags points out in the letter.
About the NĪAA
The Alliance of Real Estate Developers brings together the most significant players of the industry in order to achieve the sustainable development of the real estate industry, represent it in a collective manner on a state and local government level, as well as emphasise the role of real estate developers and investors within the economy of Latvia.
For further information:
Mārtiņš Vanags - Alliance of Real Estate Developers (NĪAA)
martins.vanags@niaa.lv
[1] Roadmap to improve and ensure good indoor ventilation in the context of COVID-19. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2021 https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240021280
[2] A guideline to limit indoor airborne transmission of COVID-19. Martin Z. Bazant, John W. M. Bush; 2021 https://www.pnas.org/content/118/17/e2018995118
[3] A study on the role of ventilation in controlling the spread of the Covid-19 virus has been carried out by a group of researchers from the Environmental Modelling and Monitoring Group. The study was published by the UK's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, which provides scientific and technical advice to support government decision-makers in emergencies. More about the study: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/emg-role-of-ventilation-in-controlling-sars-cov-2-transmission-30-September-2020
[4] Parts per million (ppm) - the ratio of the number of particles to the volume where these particles are located.