27 May

Every generation learns painful lessons, that the passage of time then makes later generations forget. Again, we once knew that the way to fight infectious disease in societies was to ventilate schools. In fact kids were sometimes even taught outside, to avoid things like TB. We need to open the windows in schools. Always, year-round. In winter this is cold, yes, we need to run the heaters at the same time, and have the windows open even just a bit. And use air purifiers to help clean the air. This doesn’t just protect kids. Schools drive infections deep into communities. They’re the hubs of most infectious disease. They’re the main reason we’re all always sick with colds, and flus. And now with Covid. Florence Nightingale revolutionised health care in the same way. She designed hospitals where the windows could be always open. You won’t find a hospital now that has an opening window, anywhere.