Mouth and nose protection protects against infection with the corona virus and must therefore be worn wherever many people come together and minimum distances cannot always be maintained. But does that also apply to residential buildings and in particular to narrow hallways and stairwells?
Table of Contents
Corona virus: a mouth and nose protection in the house?
Masks are mandatory wherever many people come together and cannot keep their distance. For this reason, wearing a surgical mask or an FFP2 mask to protect against the corona virus has long been mandatory on public transport and in the supermarket. But what about apartment buildings ? People from different households pass through the narrow staircase and the narrow hallway every day. Is there a higher risk of infection here?
No official mask requirement in the stairwell and in hallways
Officially, there are no official measures from the federal government that regulate coexistence in the apartment building and that state that a mask is mandatory. However, for your own protection and that of others, it is advisable to wear a mask in the stairwell. Especially if older people or people who are exposed to a higher risk of infection live in your house. Chinese researchers have discovered that in narrow aisles, droplets stay in the air longer and are less mixed.
You should also make sure to keep the minimum distance of 1.5 meters . If a neighbor comes towards you in the hallway, it is best to stay on the mezzanine floor. You should avoid long conversations in closed rooms. The same applies to the use of common areas such as garages or laundry rooms. Here, too, the minimum distance should be observed.
Elevator: Avoid or only enter with an FFP2 mask
If you live in an apartment building where there is an elevator, you should either avoid it or only enter with an FFP2 mask. The minimum distance cannot usually be maintained here. In addition, a Dutch study found that infectious droplets can stay in the air for up to 30 minutes. Accordingly, there is a greater risk of infection in elevators.
Hygiene tips for the apartment building
- If possible, ensure that there is a permanent flow of air in your house. Tilt the windows and try to ventilate across to remove aerosols.
- In order to avoid smear infections, the staircase and surfaces such as door handles or banisters should be cleaned regularly.
