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St. Catharines libraries to lend carbon dioxide monitors to check air quality

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Niagara Region Public Health and St. Catharines Public Library created a program that offers carbon dioxide monitors to card holders to measure indoor air quality in their spaces.

Community Access to Ventilation Information (CAVI) donated 10 Aranet4 carbon dioxide devices to all four St. Catharines Public Library branches, which can be borrowed for up to seven days.

“Over half of the customers borrowing technology at public libraries would not otherwise have had access to those services,” said Erica Wilson, collections librarian.

“Carbon dioxide monitors have been an ongoing request from our community, and we’re excited to finally make it happen with the support of CAVI and Public Health.”

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The device can be used as an indication of how well-ventilated a given space is. Each monitor comes with a guide for using the device and interpreting the results.

In a press release Monday, the city says poorly ventilated indoor spaces with high carbon dioxide levels can lead to tiredness, headaches and an increased risk of airborne infections, including COVID-19.

The reading is not a direct indicator of risk for COVID-19, but it will help determine if steps should be taken to increase ventilation, such as opening a door or window and reducing the number of people in the building.

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