A good question. We'll let the EPA take it from here: "Increasing ventilation with outdoor air and air filtration [are] important components of a larger strategy" to minimize risk of contracting COVID-19, they say. But despite preliminary data from hospitals showing possible benefits, there has yet to be a definitive answer as to air purifiers' efficacy in prevention. The EPA concurs: "When used properly, air purifiers can help reduce airborne contaminants including viruses in a home or confined space. However, by itself, a portable air cleaner is not enough to protect people from COVID-19." (Emphasis theirs.) As Wirecutter reported, the issue lies in whether or not air purifiers' HEPA filters are capable of capturing the virus before it infects you — as of spring 2022, we don't know for sure. (Although that may be beside the point, considering experts still don't know how much of the virus is needed for airborne transmission in an enclosed environment, especially given its ever-evolving variants.) For now, the best way to avoid catching COVID-19 is to keep following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to wash your hands often, wear a mask in public settings, disinfect frequently touched surfaces, and social distance when possible.