Care homes urged to use Infection Control Grant to buy air purifiers to remove viruses such as Covid

Care homes wanting to purchase air purifiers to remove viruses from the air are being reminded they can use the money from the government’s Infection Control Grant.

In late March 2021, the government announced it would give a further £202.5m to fund the care sector’s Covid infection control. The Infection Control Fund was first introduced in May 2020 to help tackle the spread of COVID-19 in care homes and was initially worth £600m.

The extension of the funding is up until the end of June 2021, with the announcement being warmly welcomed by care providers.

MedicAir, which purifies the air with medical grade purification technology, has found demand for its product has risen in a drive by care homes to keep as virus free as possible.

Orlando Mollica, business development manager for MedicAir said: "The government announced an additional grant for care homes to support providers through a new infection control fund.

“We know that care providers have been doing their best to keep those they look after safe. MedicAir wanted to help, so we thought about a solution to control the spread of COVID-19 in care settings, maintain care for people who need it, and save lives. Care homes across the UK are installing our free standing air purifiers. Simply take out the box, plug in, and protect your residents."

The main way of catching coronavirus is through the air, which is why the risk of catching COVID-19 is at its highest level when you are indoors as it is spread through small droplets in the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes or exhales. These droplets can land on objects or surfaces around the person which can then infect other people if they touch the surface and then touch their eyes, nose or mouth.

Mr Mollica added: “We have already sold thousands of units to hospitals and care homes and we have collaborated with many NHS facilities.

“We believe air purifiers are fundamental for care homes given the extreme harm that indoor air quality can cause to people over 65.

“It has been proven that low indoor air quality can exacerbate memory loss and dementia, cause breathlessness, worsen asthma and allergies, and, obviously, increase the risk of catching a virus such as influenza or COVID-19, whose outbreak has touched a huge number of UK care homes.”

Care homes tend to have low indoor air quality because of poor ventilation with doors and windows kept shut in order to keep residents warm.

Yet as a person ages, they become more affected by the risks of indoor air pollution and due to being inside more they are also exposed to higher levels.

For more information on MedicAir's products click here