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Sorry for this long entry, but my questions are specific so I want to provide context. People are coming to my house starting this weekend. I haven't gotten a straight answer from the homeowner if they'll be masked (let alone if they'll have tested negative before coming). If there are more than 2 or 3 people at once, they will be allowed into the main house (rather than keeping them in a room that can be closed off to our living space). Also, if anyone needs the bathroom, they'll be using mine. I'm going to mask myself while they're here, even though I won't leave my room until they're gone. However, my door doesn't close all the way. The windows in the part of the house they will be in will remain closed, and there is no other ventilation or filtration. 1. Should I be worried that folks breathing all over the rest of the 1st floor could infect me? 2. Would opening my window help or hurt? (Could it potentially pull the infected air into my room?) 3. How long do I wait after they leave before unmasking?
In general indoor airspaces which are poorly ventilated present a risk to all persons in those spaces. Some things that can be done to reduce risk may include, staying away from other people by being in another room with the doors closed; however, when you open the door then hallway air will enter into the room space. Improving the ventilation of the indoors by having fresh air from outdoors come in and by blowing indoors air outside can improve the quality of indoor air. Having everyone wear a well-fitting mask will also reduce infectious exhaled breath from being transmitted between people. Filtering the indoor air with a HEPA filter can also improve the air quality.
If you are going to remain in a single room while other people are in the home/building, then you can improve the circumstances by opening the room window and blowing fresh air in. Then, you can also have other windows open throughout the house and have air blown out. This can effectively move the air from your window, through your room and into the house in a single direction so that air from the rest of the house is less likely to enter into your room.
