Just wondering, could airplanes (with their superior air filtration) work as treatment centers?

[Count Duckula]

Could the thousands of grounded airplanes, with their superior air filtration systems and built-in oxygen supply possibly be used as alternative treatment centers, since hospitals are overcrowded and hospital beds are a dwindling resource?

Just wondering...

 

[exchemist]

Could the thousands of grounded airplanes, with their superior air filtration systems and built-in oxygen supply possibly be used as alternative treatment centers, since hospitals are overcrowded and hospital beds are a dwindling resource?

Just wondering...

Probably not ideal, since there's nothing special about the air supply and oxygen bottles can be provided anywhere.

But the UK is starting to make use of volunteers from the cabin crew of grounded airlines to help out in the emergency hospitals, as more and more NHS workers go off sick or self-isolate. Cabin crew are trained in first aid procedures etc, have general discipline for operating calmly in emergency conditions and are good with people.

 

[Jeeves]

No, but they'll make dandy houses. Once we clearly understand that flying around the world all the time is a bad idea, we can turn airports into villages for homeless people. Line the luggage carts with plastic and fill them with earth for raised vegetable beds. Drill some holes in the tarmac to plant trees.

 

[geordief]

No, but they'll make dandy houses. Once we clearly understand that flying around the world all the time is a bad idea, we can turn airports into villages for homeless people. Line the luggage carts with plastic and fill them with earth for raised vegetable beds. Drill some holes in the tarmac to plant trees.

Well this is the first pandemic that has been supercharged by the airline tourism industry.

Perhaps,if it is a harbinger of more to come and if it cannot be resumed as before until this one is dealt with definitively ,perhaps then it may have to be regulated (ignoring climate change for now) in some kind of a way.

That might involve a retrenchment ....

 

[Jeeves]

Well this is the first pandemic that has been supercharged by the airline tourism industry.

First one declared, anyway. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/how-deadly-is-the-coronavirus-compared-to-past-outbreaks
This one is faster and sneakier than its recent predecessors, but they all ride along with armies, refugees, political junketeers and commercial travelers, consultants, missionaries, goods shipments, and - especially - tourists.
There will certainly be some changes in the world's economies, as well as operating procedures. It'll be a challenge to re-purpose all those monster cruise ships: we really don't need any more floating casino/ brothels. The hotels are easy to find better uses for.

 

[Luchito]

As treatment centers I doubt it, but airplanes are great for being transformed into restaurants.

 

[Dennis Tate]

Could the thousands of grounded airplanes, with their superior air filtration systems and built-in oxygen supply possibly be used as alternative treatment centers, since hospitals are overcrowded and hospital beds are a dwindling resource?

Just wondering...

Maybe????


https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices...olet-c-radiation-disinfection-and-coronavirus

Ultraviolet Radiation and SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus
Q: Can UVC lamps inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus?

A: UVC radiation is a known disinfectant for air, water, and nonporous surfaces. UVC radiation has effectively been used for decades to reduce the spread of bacteria, such as tuberculosis. For this reason, UVC lamps are often called "germicidal" lamps.

UVC radiation has been shown to destroy the outer protein coating of the SARS-Coronavirus, which is a different virus from the current SARS-CoV-2 virus. The destruction ultimately leads to inactivation of the virus. (see Far-UVC light (222 nm) efficiently and safely inactivates airborne human coronavirusesExternal Link Disclaimer). UVC radiation may also be effective in inactivating the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is the virus that causes the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). For more information see "Q: Where can I read more about UV radiation and disinfection?". However, currently there is limited published data about the wavelength, dose, and duration of UVC radiation required to inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

In addition to understanding whether UVC radiation is effective at inactivating a particular virus, there are also limitations to how effective UVC radiation can be at inactivating viruses, generally.

• Direct exposure: UVC radiation can only inactivate a virus if the virus is directly exposed to the radiation. Therefore, the inactivation of viruses on surfaces may not be effective due to blocking of the UV radiation by soil, such as dust, or other contaminants such as bodily fluids.

 

[Dennis Tate]

Here is some more on this general topic.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/12/201214164328.htm

UV-emitting LED lights found to kill coronavirus
Finding suggests technology can be installed in air conditioning, vacuum, and water systems

Date:
December 14, 2020
Source:
American Friends of Tel Aviv University
Summary:
Researchers have shown that the coronavirus can be killed efficiently, quickly, and cheaply using ultraviolet (UV) light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs). They believe that the UV-LED technology will soon be available for private and commercial use.