Overview

Ventilation is one of the main environmental controls to minimize the transmission of airborne viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 indoors. By using carbon dioxide sensors to estimate ventilation, religious communities can evaluate the safety of conducting indoor services, as well as understand the density of people (occupancy) within houses of worship.

Indoor Air Quality & Places of Worship

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of well-ventilated spaces, which can significantly reduce the likelihood of contracting COVID-19. Some states allow for in-person worship, and there are significant concerns:

1. Gatherings of people in unventilated indoor spaces where airborne viruses can accumulate increases the odds of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. The virus can accumulate up to an order of magnitude faster when the congregation is singing or speaking during the service. 
2. Adults aged 65 and older are more likely to attend religious services, an age group particularly vulnerable to hospitalization or death due to COVID-19. 
3. Churches and older buildings may have inadequate or outdated ventilation systems.

Outreach

Supply churches who are currently, or planning to, conduct services in-person with carbon dioxide sensors to assess ventilation and occupancy within the space. Provide helpful information on how to calibrate the equipment, where to best position their sensors for accurate data collection, and how to interpret the data. Afterwards, we will supply information on how to improve ventilation within their space. All the data and information will be confidential and belong to the church. 

The program is designed to assist populations that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, and to empower those communities to gather and support their community in a safe, healthy space when possible under CDC guidance.