[Angostura]

Is there evidence for this? The typical theory is that during winter, you get more people indoors, in close proximity with poor ventilation- similarly planes is just about a large number of people sitting in close proximity for an extended period.

[jajko]

Its common knowledge in regions with stronger winters that indoor humidity needs to be well managed (aka avoid too dry air) since upper breathing tract is more prone to infections. I've experienced it myself numerous times, so did my family and literally everybody in that region I know. Nobody ever bothered to look for peer-reviewed study of something one experiences every winter during ones whole life (just like ie eating raw strong garlic works very well as prevention of infections, not so much once sick).

Now that's not the sole reason for transmissions of course, but weakened outer defenses help infections a lot.

[mschuster91]

> The typical theory is that during winter, you get more people indoors, in close proximity with poor ventilation

Covid by far is no longer a "winter only" thing. The US has a record covid wave [1], so does Germany [2] and the UK [3].

Unfortunately politicians worldwide have pretty much given up preventing Covid transmission, mostly due to the serious backlash from shortsighted large employers and the far-right - some places like Nassau County (NY, US) even ban people from wearing masks [4] to protect themselves. Not to mention large parts of the population itself - try wearing a mask in public these days, people will either look at you like you're some sort of madman or they'll just outright assault you [5].

And all of that despite serious indicators that even minor measures like air filters in kindergartens and schools massively reduce sick times... it's truly maddening, air filters don't impact anyone, they're cheap to operate. But people don't want any kind of reminder of the lockdown era, they sometimes even violently respond to that.

We regulate literally everything needed for survival... our water gets tested to make sure it's free of contaminants, food and medicine production of all kinds has to comply with very strict requirements, noise polluters such as cars, trucks and heavy machinery get regulated... but the air we breathe? Nothing except particulate emissions from cars and industry gets regulated. Children have to learn in schools no matter how hot, humid, CO2-overloaded or moldy it is. Workers enjoy barely any protection as well. And it takes a massive amount of mold for a residential building to be declared unfit for living, maintaining air-condition installations (especially filters) isn't a requirement, which means landlords can get away with a lot of shit... It's a disgrace how far we have all fallen.

[1] https://edition.cnn.com/2024/08/16/health/covid-largest-summ...

[2] https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2024/07/17/bxrf-j17.html

[3] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ck5g2jk0730o

[4] https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2024/08/27/nassau-mask...

[5] https://www.newsweek.com/will-keenan-attacked-wearing-face-m...

[trogdor]

The “record Covid wave” in the US is not evenly distributed across the country.

According to the CDC, “As of August 16, 2024, we estimate that COVID-19 infections are growing or likely growing in 27 states, declining or likely declining in 4 states, and are stable or uncertain in 17 states.”

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/cfa-modeling-and-forecasting/rt-estimate...

[treis]

Do you have a cite for the air filters? I'm under the impression that stand alone air filters don't move enough air to be effective.

[mschuster91]

In kindergartens it's 1/3rd less sick days [1], schools is 20% less [2]. That's the most recent I'm aware of.

[1] https://yle.fi/a/74-20062381

[2] https://www.newscientist.com/article/2398713-schools-cut-cov...