Seems no-one in the UK is talking about the need to HUMIDIFY air

[Kokeshi123]

There is already a lot of evidence that this virus is being spread largely through the air, and that clean air matters a lot more than clean hands and surfaces (Yes, do wash your hands as well. Don't expect it to really dent the numbers of cases or deaths).

It seems like the UK has in the last couple of months cottoned on to the importance of ventilating rooms as much as possible. However, it appears that there is very little talk about the benefits of humidifying rooms as well.

www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20201013/k10012661241000.html?utm_int=news_contents_news-main_003

This is just a sample, but the study here in Japan found that the spread of the virus is increased around three-fold in dry air versus humidified air. This is actually no surprise, because variations on this theme have long been noted in the scientific literature. For other seasonal viruses (influenza, colds etc.) as well as many other viral infections like measles, viral spread is greatly reduced when the air is humidified.

Is humidity the key to staying healthy?
www.boston25news.com/news/is-humidity-the-key-to-staying-healthy-/1012463681/

This Inexpensive Action Lowers Hospital Infections And Protects Against Flu Season (this article discusses the mechanism by which humidity reduces the spread of viral particles)
www.forbes.com/sites/leahbinder/2019/10/17/harvard-researcher-says-this-inexpensive-action-will-lower-hospital-infection-rates-and-protect-us-for-the-flu-season/#3b398a4a1824

While all those factors had modest influence, one factor stood out above them all, and it shocked the research team. The one factor most associated with infection was (drum roll): dry air. At low relative humidity, indoor air was strongly associated with higher infection rates. “When we dry the air out, droplets and skin flakes carrying viruses and bacteria are launched into the air, traveling far and over long periods of time. The microbes that survive this launching tend to be the ones that cause healthcare-associated infections,” said Taylor. “Even worse, in addition to this increased exposure to infectious particles, the dry air also harms our natural immune barriers which protect us from infections."

Since that study was published, there is now more research in peer-reviewed literature observing a link between dry air and viral infections, such as the flu, colds and measles, as well as many bacterial infections, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is funding more research. Taylor finds one of the most interesting studies from a team at the Mayo Clinic, which humidified half of the classrooms in a preschool and left the other half alone over three months during the winter. Influenza-related absenteeism in the humidified classrooms was two-thirds lower than in the standard classrooms—a dramatic difference. Taylor says this study is important because its design included a control group: the half of classrooms without humidity-related intervention.

Humidifiers are expensive, but fortunately, there are plenty of free, low-tech ways to humidify rooms. Should we not be talking about this--especially vis-a-vis schools?
www.diynetwork.com/made-and-remade/learn-it/6-ways-to-humidify-your-house-without-using-a-humidifier

[nodogz]

I

[acerred]

Two windows in my house are permanently open and I always have a window open downstairs when we are in the living room so I think we're probably OK with the amount of rain we get.

[WhiskyTangoFoxtrot]

Opening windows is always sensible.

It's happening in schools (threads are beginning about to appear about the need for thermals)

Air conditioned offices and other workplaces are I suppose the risky places?

Thinking of workplaces, how does this theory fit with meat processing plants?

[LilyPond2]

@WhiskyTangoFoxtrot I recall reading a theory re meat processing plants that the repeated spraying down of areas causes the virus to aerosolise. So maybe in meat processing plants that phenomenon is outweighing any benefits from humidity.

[Quarterback11]

Because we are doing our best to bring humidity DOWN to 60%, no need to try and increase it.

Open the windows and the humidity will increase (88% outdoors here today).

[pastandpresent]

I was used to using humidifier when living outside of uk. But when I used humidifier in uk, it caused so much trouble, mouldy windowsill etc. I think uk is incredibly humid during winter, even with heating on.
Japanese winter is cold but very dry. It's totally opposite here, ime.

[WindFlower92]

Stupid question, but is too much humidity a bad thing? My classroom has all windows and door open and no heating on. My weather app says humidity outside today is about 80%, are these conditions okay?

[nannynick]

John Campbell has mentioned it several times on his videos.

Humidity in my flat typically is around 60% and has been as high as 78%. The more heating is on and all windows shut it will drop to around 50%.

What is the ideal percentage to keep the virus level low? 60%+?