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The $1.6 million project was paid for by the Emergency Relief Fund
CEDAR RAPIDS — Starting this week, Cedar Rapids School will upgrade some heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
Some schools’ heating, ventilation, and air cooling systems are adding technology called pinpoint bipolar ionization to help filter airborne particles, including viruses such as COVID-19, bacteria, mold, dust, dander, and smoke. The school district has not determined which schools are adding the technology.
The project is paid for by the Emergency Relief Fund for Elementary and Secondary Schools. Jonathan Galbraith, the building and site manager of the Cedar Rapids Community School District, said the total cost of the equipment was about $1.6 million and the installation cost was about $600,000. The school district received $32.4 million from the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Relief Program to help offset costs during the pandemic.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, air quality has been a topic of discussion because COVID-19 can be spread through the air. Needle tip bipolar ionization may be a way to fight the virus. Another mitigation strategy is to wear a mask.
On September 15, Cedar Rapids School resumed the requirement for all students, faculty, staff, and visitors to wear masks. Daycare programs based on Cedar Rapids also need to wear masks, and they are encouraged to wear masks in school activities after school.
If the number of positive COVID-19 cases in counties and schools decreases, Cedar Rapids school officials will consider ending the district’s mask requirements for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
As of November 19, the latest data showed that 27 students and 10 faculty members of Cedar Rapids School had tested positive for the disease. The 7-day average positive rate in Linxian County was 15.2%, and the virus transmission level was the county-wide epidemic level.
Although the overall COVID-19 positive rate at Cedar Rapids School is less than 1%, 16% of Lin County students aged 17 and under test positive for the virus.
The school district stated that it would consider ending its mask mission:
The tip bipolar ionization is a product of Global Plasma Solutions. According to the company's website, the use of this technology is not intended to replace reasonable precautions to prevent the spread of disease.
The company recommends that it is important to comply with public health laws and government guidelines, including guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including social distancing, hand washing and wearing masks.
According to the company's disclaimer, Global Plasma Solutions' products have not been evaluated by the US Food and Drug Administration as medical devices, and are not used to treat, cure or prevent infections or diseases caused by certain viruses or bacteria.
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