[Besticle]

CO2 as a proxy to air ventilation is a good start BUT doesn't show the full picture of what makes up IAQ (indoor air quality).

Better (but more expensive) would be monitors that could measure PM2.5 molecules in the air like that of the airborne aerosols that transmit Covid (phlegm, spittle etc).

[parkingrift]

A recent study from the University of Bristol suggests that Covid particles become 90% less infectious within as little as five minutes. I don’t know whether the UK will get much benefit from measuring PM2.5. The CO2 monitors will alert them to open windows and that’s about all that can be done.

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.08.22268944v...

[Besticle]

Will help in generally combatting absenteeism as well as things like seasonal cold/flu.

[ahaucnx]

Yes I agree. Often there is also the dilemma if you live in a polluted area and have purifiers in the classrooms.

Opening the windows will reduce CO2 but increase PM2.5. Not opening will lead to lower PM2.5 but high CO2.

Here in Asia in highly polluted areas, positive pressure systems are getting more and more popular at home as well as in classrooms[1].

[1] https://www.airgradient.com/resources/positive-pressure-syst...

[yourusername]

In urban areas increased ventilation might increase PM2.5 (unless it is filtered). 30 mcg/M^3 PM2.5 might mean a lot of covid particles or the house across the street just lit their wood heater.

[Besticle]

Yeah measuring both PM2.5 and CO2 will help in balancing the two.