A 2021 study, funded by the National Science Foundation, found that viruses like COVID-19, influenza, and the common cold are transmitted by aerosol droplets much smaller than scientists once thought — meaning someone doesn’t have to be sneezing or heavily coughing to spread germs. That, in turn, might explain why even a quick visit from a friend battling a cold can turn into a days-long bout of illness for the whole family.
Though more research is needed to fully understand the transmission of COVID-19, adding a whole-home air cleaning device can help minimize germs in your home’s air. “These advanced filtration systems are permanently installed inside the home’s ductwork where they use a combination of technologies to zap airborne germs, viruses and VOCs,” explains DiClerico. For example, the Trane CleanEffects® Whole Home Air Cleaner — which is certified as asthma and allergy friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America — is proven to remove 99.98% of airborne pollutants as small as 0.3 microns (that includes as mold spores, allergens, bacteria, and even some pollen). For comparison, that makes it up to 100 times more effective than a standard 1-inch filter, according to Trane.