“COVID is spread by micro droplets that hang in the air for hours. Statistically it does not appear to be spread by surfaces so a lot of the rules that we use for keeping safe are unlikely to help—breath barriers, obsessive washing of everything. Incredible real life examples of how it is spread are now obvious in retrospect: an airplane packed with 400 spreaders of virus, not respecting distancing, half the time with their masks off, no breath barriers between seats—no one gets COVID. Why? Airplanes change out their air once every three minutes and 75% of it is from outside. You should be so lucky with your teammates for a beer after a game at the corner bar….Well now you can be with the Toast Test. It is a simple reproducible way of evaluating the factors that make for a safe COVID environment.
Much scientific study has gone into modeling of indoor environments for the spread of virus particles. The algorithms used are very complex and rely on an untold number of assumptions. In-Vivo virus distribution experiments have also been done with a variety of closed environments but they rely on extensive testing methods and are dangerous if using live virus. What is needed is a test that mimics the movement of viral aerosols, is easy to track, reproducible, and responds to the same forces that we know decrease virus transmission risk: diluting air movement, HEPA filtration and ventilation.
The Toast Test has nothing to do with the great news that Toast of London is now signed up for a new season. Rather it is an easily built, battery operated, unit that uses the virus simulating effects of a toaster smoke plume to follow the potential for COVID safety in inside environments. “