Testing buildings may help fight COVID-19

Testing buildings may help fight COVID-19

Matt -- so we can't all be tested for covid-19 every day.

So how do you go back to places like school and work and still be safe?

Well a team of researchers here now says they have a*new layer of protection.

With coronavirus testing resources*limited -- a new approach is emerging.

Instead of just testing people -- it's all about testing buildings too.

Nats - "this is the guts of the building" "we can't test every person every day, but we can test every building every day.

// and get a signal from a lot of people who may have been present in that space or exposed" kevin van den whym-lenberg and his research team at the university of oregon are among those developing the innovative approach.

Nats - "by focusing on testing exhaust air for the virus, we can get rapid signal of the presence of any individual with the virus."

And they showed us how they're testing buildings for covid-19 on campus.

Nats - "we're gonna do the handrail here," they swab surfaces and air ducts and take air samples - nat "there's a lot of dust here" searching for small particles of the coronavirus "we believe that by testing buildings, you can get out ahead of a potential outbreak.

" researchers say once the virus is detected in a building, there are several things you can do to limit the spread... things like increasing filtration, disinfecting surfaces, and targeted human testing researchers, say this type of technology is in various stages of piloting -- including at the university of oregon.

So how much does all this cost?

"we think we can more than offset the expense of other mitigation strategies by targeting the effort.

And then of course the price of making a mistake in this situation is innumerable so we think this is a worth wile investment" a senior living community in oregon says they've already benefitted.

A biotechnology company found the virus on 3 surfaces inside the "springs living" facility in lake oswego.

One of those contaminated surfaces was a keyboard on a staff computer - which told the facility- one of their employees was probably infected.

"and ultimately that offered us five days advance warning before any of the employees that tested positive actually showed symptoms//we strongly believe that early detection through surface testing saved lives."

"it helps give us piece of mind its one more tool we have in fighting this war against the invisible enemy" its important to note that experts say this testing should*not replace wearing a mask and social distancing, but it*could be an added layer of prevention.

Reporting live at the university of oregon jillian smukler kezi 9 news.