By Dr Gary Kantor Most South Africans have never heard of Nipah virus. Today, it’s on the World Health Organization’s list of emerging infectious threats. Nipah outbreaks are rare but their consequences are severe: fatality rates in past outbreaks reached 40-75% or more. There is no proven antiviral treatment and no widely available vaccine. WHO says…
Details
Covid has changed. The virus is now much more transmissible, with Omicron the dominant variant in most countries with a steep rise in cases. This virus is with us for the long term, so how should we deal with it? It’s time to focus on what works: better ventilation of indoor spaces and public transport…
Details
Great article from Gareth (Gary) Kantor, a panel member of the GreenFlag Association “Though the pandemic exposed many societal defects that contributed to global suffering, the root cause of failure is that WHO, and other international public health authorities were unwilling to accept, and publicly declare, despite evidence available early on, that Covid-19 is an airborne disease.” Read…
Details
While vaccines protect us from serious harm and everyone should get vaccinated, it’s still not enough. A multi-layered strategy, including ventilation of indoor spaces, will reduce transmission and is urgently needed. If we can reduce the average number of people that each person with Covid infects to less than one for just a few weeks,…
Details
The Green Flag Association says it is now widely accepted that inhaled aerosols pose a far bigger risk than touching surfaces contaminated with Covid-19. It has urged government and business to emphasise clean air rather than clean hands to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission, saying public messaging needs to urgently shift gear before the…
Details
With scientists predicting that a fourth wave of Covid-19 infections will hit South Africa towards the end of this year, GreenFlag Association exposure scientists and medical specialists say that the number of infections can be limited by combining an intensified vaccination roll-out programme with a diligent focus on clean air and ventilation of indoor spaces. Read the…
Details
Some churches in South Africa are going “underground” in response to the Covid-19 restrictions placed on them – and in doing so, risking the lives of the congregations, they aim to serve, writes Norman Khoza, the chairman of GreenFlag Association. Churches feel targeted by the restriction on their numbers, as there is no scientific basis to…
Details
As more staff return to regular working hours at offices, businesses have an obligation to make sure their premises are safe. Good ventilation with fresh, not recirculated air, is critical. The risk of more extreme waves of Covid infections is raised as businesses, schools and universities consider bringing staff and students back into offices and…
Details
Catch Garth Hunter, a director on the International Occupational Hygiene Association board, representing Southern Africa (SAIOH), and a panellist at GreenFlag, getting the ventilation message out on eNCA. Watch it here.
Details
While the speedy, effective roll-out of vaccinations is fundamental to South Africa’s economic recovery, the Covid-19 Delta variant has changed the way the disease can be passed on. To make all indoor spaces as safe as possible, sufficient ventilation to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission must be ensured, says ventilation organisation GreenFlag Association chairperson Norman Khoza. Read…
Details