Are Elevators Safe During A Pandemic?
I’ve been researching just how safe elevators are during a pandemic, and while the risk factor might be low, you are still better off not having to ride in one. Is the cab small, limited to just one or two people, or is it a larger elevator cab that can hold 4 standing 6 feet apart? Are you just going up and down a few floors, or traveling 50 floors? Is it at all practical to take the stairs? If you step into an elevator that was just vacated by an infected person, the germs may still be present and if you don’t keep your mask on you might endanger yourself. If you are in with others and one of them coughs or sneezes this may put you at a higher risk. One article cautioned not to speak while in an elevator. Don’t use your fingers to touch the buttons. All riders should wear masks, and if someone isn’t, get off immediately. A single cough can expel several thousand to several hundred thousand viral particles. What happens when office occupancy goes back up to 50 or 100% and there are lines waiting for an elevator spot? What sanitizing schedule, if any, does your building management have? Is there a way to increase the elevator cab ventilation?