COVID-19 Makes Indoor Environmental Quality a Top Priority for Reopening Schools and Universities in Puerto Rico

As schools and universities begin the new semester, with combinations of in-person and online classes, preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus is essential for keeping these institutions open and protecting the health of students, teachers and other faculty.
 
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the risk of COVID-19 spread increases in school settings as follows:

• Lowest Risk - Students and teachers engage in virtual-only classes, activities and events.
• More Risk - Small, in-person classes, activities and events. Groups of students stay together and with the same teacher throughout/across school days and groups do not mix. Students remain at least 6 feet apart and do not share objects (e.g., hybrid virtual and in-person class structures, or staggered/rotated scheduling to accommodate smaller class sizes).
• Highest Risk - Full sized, in-person classes, activities and events. Students are not spaced apart, share classroom materials or supplies, and mix between classes and activities.

“To mitigate the risk of infections, it is going to take more than hand hygiene, face coverings, and posted signs and messages reminding students to social distance and wash their hands,” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental. “Ongoing cleaning, disinfecting and proper ventilation are also going to be key components to successfully bring students and teachers back for the school year. At Zimmetry, our infection control, environmental and building science professionals have been busy helping institutions across Puerto Rico to plan, test and modify policies and programs designed to safeguard building occupants. We offer building assessments and inspections; HVAC system evaluations; 3^rd party confirmation of cleaning and disinfection protocols; air and surface testing for environmental pathogens; and training services to provide the resources needed to safely reopen schools and universities, and keep them open.” 
 
To learn more about building assessments, infection control, environmental pathogens, indoor air quality (IAQ) or other industrial hygiene services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com .
 
About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals and Fortune 500 companies. The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America. The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs and general environmental consulting services.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail