Surface cleaning and COVID-19: what you want to know

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The COVID-19 virus can be spread by direct contact, airborne transmission, or droplets. Some cases potentially spread through surfaces have also been reported. But the threat is very low. The threat of surface transmission of COVID-19 is less than 1 in 10,000.

While the updated rules imply that surface transmission is unlikely, others still apply disinfection protocols to disinfect surfaces in homes. Some other people refer to the act of excessive cleaning as a “hygiene theater. “This term suggests that there are a few more sanitation practices as a “spectacle” to appease other people’s minds rather than relying on science.

Coronavirus: what you want to know

Studies show that using familiar soap or detergents decreases the number of germs on surfaces. This alone reduces the threat of infection. The rules now state that the use of disinfectants is not mandatory unless you have health problems at home or have tested positive for COVID-19 in your home in the last 24 hours.

You are unlikely to catch COVID-19 on a surface, but the threat still exists. Laboratory studies have shown that the virus can persist in other fabrics for varying periods of time. We don’t know if those effects still apply in the real world, but you can use them as a guide.

MetalExamples: door handles, jewelry, silverware5-9 days

WoodExamples: furniture, terrace4 days

Stainless steelExamples: refrigerators, pots and pans, sinks, some bottles of water2 days

CardboardExamples: 24-hour boxes

CopperExamples: coins, kettles, kitchen utensils4 hours

AluminumExamples: soda cans, aluminum foil, water bottles2 hours away

GlassExamples: glasses, measuring cups, mirrors, windowsUp to five days

CeramicsExamples: tableware, pottery, cups5 days

PaperExamples: mail, journalDuration varies. Some coronavirus strains live a few minutes on paper, while others live up to five days.

FoodExamples: takeaway, productsThe coronavirus seems to spread through food.

Water No coronavirus has been discovered in drinking water. If you enter the water supply, your local water treatment plant filters and disinfects the water, which deserves to kill all germs.

FabricsExamples: clothing, linen

Shoes

One study tested the shoe soles of medical staff in an intensive care unit (ICU) of a Chinese hospital and found that some parts were positive for the nucleic acids of the virus. But it’s not clear whether those parts of the virus cause infection. The general ward of the hospital, which had other people with milder cases, less infected than the ICU.

skin and hair

There are no studies on how long the virus can live on the skin or hair accurately. Rhinoviruses, which cause colds, last for hours. That is why it is vital to wash or disinfect your hands, as you are likely to come into contact with infected people. Surfaces.

Coronavirus transmission: what you want to know

It’s a smart concept to blank your home to protect yourself and your circle of family members from viruses like COVID-19.

There are also tactics for the likelihood of surfaces becoming infected with COVID-19:

If you live with someone who has COVID-19 or have had a guest with a positive case in your home within 24 hours, disinfect your home in addition to normal cleaning. This will kill the remaining germs and decrease the chances of spreading the virus.

If you are unable to stay in a separate room or bathroom from the user with COVID-19, make sure they clean and disinfect non-unusual spaces after use. If the user with health problems cannot remain blank, wear a mask and gloves to clean and disinfect your domain only when necessary. Be sure to open windows or doors and use fans, heating, ventilation and air conditioning for smart air circulation.

Once the user is no longer sick, it is vital to whiten the domain they have been left in. Wear a mask when bleaching and disinfecting. Wait as long as imaginable before doing so. If you can wait 24 hours before deleting your domain, you just have to clear that space, not sanitize it.

If you wait 3 days after your family user gets sick, no additional cleaning is necessary (other than regime cleaning).

SOURCES:

CDC: “SARS-CoV-2 and Surface Transmission (Phome) for Indoor Community Settings,” “Cleaning Your Home,” “Food and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). “

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health: “Curtains for the ‘Hygiene Theater. ‘”

Cleveland Clinic: “How Long Will the Coronavirus Survive on Surfaces?”

Houston Methodist: “How Long Can Coronavirus Last in Packages?”

Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials: “Can coronavirus get deep into shoes?”

Mayo Clinic: “Can COVID-19 (coronavirus) spread food, water, surfaces and pets?”

Hackensack Meriden Health: “How long does coronavirus last on clothing?”

Environmental research: “Contamination of inert surfaces by SARS-CoV-2: Persistence, stability and infectivity. A critique. “

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