Improved disease control in public buildings ‘could save UK billions a year’
Posted by The Guardian UK on 13th Jun 2022
Mandating improved ventilation and other forms of disease control in public buildings could save the UK economy billions of pounds each year through the prevention of ill health and its societal impacts, according to a report.
It is the first study to comprehensively evaluate the health, social and economic costs of airborne infections, including Covid. Even without a pandemic, seasonal respiratory diseases cost the UK about £8bn a year in disruption and sick days, said the report by the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers. In the event of another severe pandemic within the next 60 years, the societal cost could be as high as £23bn a year.
However, implementing improved ventilation in all buildings that require it could save at least £3bn a year – the figure could be higher as the calculation did not include wider estimates for improvements in health and wellbeing, such as increased alertness and productivity as a result of improved air quality.