It is time to clean the air we share and reduce Long Covid and mortality.
Together with Long Covid SOS, Long Covid Support, and dozens of organisations we have sent Health Secretary, Stephen Barclay MP an open letter urging the Government to pass a Public Space Ventilation Bill.
In every public space, especially vulnerable communities and high-risk environments such as schools, health and social care settings, we urgently need:
● Visible CO2 monitors
● A regulated max CO2 level of 800ppm
● Immediate upgrading of ventilation and air filtration
● Government ventilation grants for indoor public spaces
● An open access online monitoring system with a RAG (Red, Amber, Green) score
“We don’t let children drink dirty water and they shouldn’t breathe dirty air. We all have a responsibility to safeguard the future health of the next generation.” Sammie McFarland, CEO & Founder of Long Covid Kids
The open letter sent to Health Secretary, Stephen Barclay MP
30th January 2023
The Rt Hon. Stephen Barclay, MP
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
House of Commons London SW1A 0AA
Dear Secretary of State,
Call for Public Space Ventilation Bill
SARS-CoV-2 is still killing, disabling and damaging unacceptable numbers of people in the UK and globally. But the science is clear: airborne transmission is preventable through ventilation, filtration and sterilisation.
Everyone deserves the human right to be kept safe from airborne pathogens. It is vital that the UK Government passes a Public Space Ventilation Bill, or that airborne pathogens are specifically named as a biogenic pollutant in Schedule 2 of the Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill 2022-23. In every public space, especially vulnerable communities and high-risk environments such as schools, health and social care settings, we urgently need:
● Visible CO2 monitors
● A regulated max CO2 level of 800ppm
● Immediate upgrading of ventilation and air filtration
● Government ventilation grants for indoor public spaces
● An open access online monitoring system with a RAG (Red, Amber, Green) score
Like the founding of the UK’s sewerage system 150 years ago, this legislation would be a historic step forward for public health. We already have the knowledge and technology. This would protect people from new and existing Covid strains, influenza, Strep A, RSV, future airborne pandemics, alongside the toxic airborne particles such as VOCs, allergens and mould already named in the bill. It would have an exceptional positive and cost- effective effect on health, education and productivity.
The Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill, (aka Ella’s Law) currently passing through Parliament, was introduced to “establish a human right to clean air and would require the government to limit the concentration of pollutants in the air in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and scientific evidence” (House of Lords Research briefing). The current draft specifies only mould and damp, not airborne pathogens. We, therefore, urge you to build on the momentum of this Bill to include what the WHO, and a large body of scientific evidence, considers to be airborne pathogens capable of serious harm to health, that can be removed through ventilation and air purification systems. This is consistent and indeed necessary to fulfil the principles of prevention, precaution and sustainability in Section 20 of the draft bill.
This is an opportunity to create jobs and an industry whilst relieving pressure on the NHS, social care, education, benefits system and employers. The resulting reduced costs would compensate for the investment in this world-leading project. A Royal Academy of Engineering report commissioned by the Government's Chief Scientific Officer, Sir Patrick Vallance, calculated that failure to act on indoor infection control could cost the UK £1.3 trillion over the next 60 years. The key prioritisation is clearly affirmed, “It is critical to improve the infection resilience of the UK’s built environment and transportation systems.” Can we afford not to do this?
The UK Government knows this can and should be done. It is rolling out state-of-the-art ventilation and filtration to prevent airborne transmission in Parliament and selected government buildings. The World Economic Forum in Davos 2023 had exceptional Covid mitigations including HEPA air filtration and UVGI/Far UVC. Chief Medical Officer Sir Chris Whitty asserts that “Engineering interventions, such as effective ventilation indoors, can help to reduce transmission of many infections in places of work, study, at home, and on public transport.” We believe everyone deserves the same human right to clean air, not just those in power. Many countries are regulating and instigating Clean Air policies involving ventilation and filtration, including Belgium, France, Latvia, New Zealand, Italy, USA and Australia. The UK Government needs to do the same.
The question of our time is how do we end the pandemic? History, writes MIT nuclear engineer Charles Forsberg, “shows that most diseases are stopped by shutting down disease transmission...the most enduring way to stop transmission is via engineered health systems.” The answer is simple: we must clean the air. If we do this, we can work towards removing many pathogens and variants, and our rights to health and freedom can be maintained. We only have to take that step. Please help us to help everyone.
We would like to arrange a meeting with your team to discuss this at your earliest convenience
Yours sincerely
Long Covid Kids CAPA (Covid Airborne Protection Alliance): members of which are
Long Covid Advocacy ARTP - Association for Respiratory Technology & Physiology
Long Covid Support BAPEN - British Association for Parenteral & Enteral Nutrition
Long Covid SOS BIASP - British Association of Stroke Physicians
Corsi Rosenthal BDA - British Dietetic Association
Foundation
SAPHNA School &
Public Health Nurses
Association BOHS - British Occupational Health Society
Covid Bereaved BSG - British Society of Gastroenterology
Families for Justice
Hazards Campaign College of Paramedics
Airborne Allergy Action CSP - Chartered Society of Physiotherapists
Long Covid Doctors FreshAir NHS
for Action
Clean Air Classrooms HCSA - Hospital Consultants & Specialists Association
Long Covid Nurses and MSDUK - Med Supply Drive UK
Midwives UK
Long COVID Physio NNNG - National Nurses Nutrition Group
Long Covid Scotland QNI - Queen’s Nursing Institute
Clinically Vulnerable RCSLT - Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists
Families
Long Covid Work Doctor’s Association UK
Occupational Therapy Covid Action
for Long Covid
The UK Mastocytosis
Support Group
About
In 2021 Long Covid Kids became the first UK-based, international registered charity advocating for families, children and young people living with Long Covid.
The charity focuses on recognition, support and recovery, has already received recognition from the NHS and the Centre for Disease Control in the USA, and is a recommended resource in the NICE Long Covid guidelines.
Our Mission
Purpose
We believe all children should be able to thrive and look forward to a positive future. That is why we represent and support children and young people living with Long Covid and related illnesses and the parents and caregivers that look after them.
Our Vision
To achieve recognition, support and recovery for Long Covid and related illnesses in children and young people
Support Our Work
While children are living with life-changing symptoms and families struggle to seek support, we need to be here. Your donation will be used directly to support families living with Long Covid. Find out more about our Impact.
