There's a new line of defense against COVID-19 at one Fort Worth ISD academy.
There are four new COVID-19 killing air filtration units at the I.M. Terrell Academy for STEM and Visual Performing Arts.
They were donated by Monzer Hourani, the owner of Houston-based biodefense technology company Integrated Viral Protection.
"They were able to donate a few units to us to give us an opportunity to see how they work," says Christina Walk, the director of visual and performing arts for the Fort Worth ISD.
There are two large units in the choir and instrumental rehearsal spaces, and two small units in the academy's visual and performing arts department.
"They recirculate the air at least three to five times per hour," says Walk. "We can use them to clear out the air before a rehearsal or performance starts."
The devices are designed to catch and kill 99.999% of airborne SARS-CoV-2 virus and anthrax spores, as well as other airborne contaminants using heat and HEPA filter technologies instantaneously in a single pass.
About the only drawback is that the units aren't exactly quiet.
"You hear them," Walk says, "so we do have to turn them off during instruction and when someone's playing."
