Can air purifiers protect you from Covid-19 germs?

Team Udayavani, Apr 30, 2020, 6:27 PM IST

Covid-19 pandemic has changed our lives in many aspects, especially in maintaining good hygiene.  Now, most of them have turned to air purifiers to cleanse the air of dust, pollen, pet dander, smoke, cooking fumes, and more. It is said that a high performing air purifier can prevent some airborne diseases because it can trap and remove flu viruses from the air. But can it protect you from coronavirus

Well, the answer is no. It is said that an air purifier can combat other causes of respiratory problems and improve the overall air quality in your home, but a standard HEPA filter can’t capture and destroy something as small as a virus.

HEPA filters claim to remove 99.97% of particles “greater than or equal to” 0.3 microns. Most viruses vary in diameter from a mere 20 nanometres ( 0.02 microns, or 0.00002mm) up to 400nm (0.4 microns) some are bigger still. A typical coronavirus is about 100 nanometres, or 0.1 microns, in diameter. That puts the coronavirus, and most other viruses, well below the particle size that a HEPA filter can claim to trap.

Some research has shown that medical-grade air purifiers can kill viruses, bacteria and sterilise air in homes and offices, But, when it comes to Covid-19, washing your hands often, social distancing and self-isolation are a much more effective method of preventing coronavirus.