How Gas Sensors can Help with Controlling COVID-19

Recently, research firm IDTechX explored the use of CO2 sensors to control COVID-19 transmission better while the world awaits the release of the vaccine.What new technologies can help people control the epidemic. How can the transmission of COVID-19 be minimised, what sensor technologies exist, and how can they be used to help decrease COVID-19 transmission?

How is COVID-19 transmitted?

The current COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the world to its core, and the result of global lockdowns to prevent the spread of the virus has had massive economic consequences including the closure of many thousands of businesses and many tens of millions of people left without jobs. And most people lose their lives, However, Over the past year, as the virus has spread, it has been unclear how it has spread, causing concern for many peoples. Still, studies suggest that COVID is transmitted by either direct contact with those infected, indirect through surfaces that infected individuals have touched, and in saliva, droplets suspended in their air when coughed or sneezed from an infected individual. While some patients have shown the virus to exist in faecal matter and urine, it is more likely that the virus mostly utilises aerosol transmission as one of the main symptoms of COVID is frequent sneezing (viruses often cause symptoms which improve their transmission rate).  
As a result, many restrictions and rules which have been put in place attempt to minimise COVIDs ability to infect a population. Firstly, Most outdoor social activities were banned and people stayed safely at home which makes it hard for any disease to spread. Secondly, Using a mask can effectively prevent secondary infection, but only if the mask is used correctly. Thirdly, the use of gloves prevents infection through contact with infected surfaces, At the same time, disinfection, people can touch the daily disinfection of the place thoroughly, which also greatly reduced the transmission efficiency of the virus

Research Firm IDTechX Explores the Use of Gas Sensors to Reduce COVID-19 Transmission

Recently, the research firm IDTechX have explored how NDIR gas sensors can be used for determining the quality of air in a room, and thus identify areas that may pose COVID transmission risks. The concept of gas detection maybe a lot of people don't know. The concept of gas detection works on the assumption that a room which is poorly ventilated or has too many individuals, will show an increase in CO2 concertation in the air. From there, smart systems connected to the sensors can then alert individuals to the increased risk of virus transmission, or environmental controls can be activated to replace the air in the room with cleaner, outside air. The use of sensors to monitor air quality is already being put in place in schools across Germany, and these sensors utilise a traffic light colour system to indicate to those nearby the quality of the air. Depending on the color of the lights, people can know the state of the air quality nearby. According to IDTechX, it is believed that by 2021, Germany will have installed over 50,000 air quality sensors and that the demand for CO2 sensors will increase to over 1 million units globally.For a long time to come, people will pay more and more attention to air quality. It may be an invention that changes people's living habits.

Conclusion

Of course, the mass installation of such sensors not only provides the ability to fight against COVID but other airborne diseases that will eventually occur in the future. and such technology may be able to better mitigate against the economic effects of lockdowns. The use of such technology also provides a whole wealth of environmental information that could prove beneficial to climate researchers. But at the same time, the fight against the virus does not depend solely on scientific instruments. It requires each of us to take our own responsibility to reduce the effective transmission of the virus.