Killing coronavirus is everyone’s concern. When a mysterious virus started triggering several cases of pneumonia in Wuhan, China in December of 2019, no one could have predicted what was about to happen. On January 7, 2020 authorities in China had finally identified novel coronavirus as the cause.
Since then, the disease has rapidly spread across the world via infected people. To date, there have been 94,250 cases reported worldwide and approximately 3,214 deaths. It’s also been confirmed that the deaths from coronavirus now exceed those from the deadly SARS outbreak.
To say everyone is panicked is an understatement. Airlines are canceling international flights. Conferences and trade shows are being postponed or canceled altogether. Countries are enforcing travel restrictions and bans to protect their citizens. Cruises are denying passengers from certain countries. Airports are being quarantined nearly every hour. Schools are closing down. Hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes are flying off the shelves and being price-gouged.
Preventing and killing coronavirus is something facility managers and business owners should know since the virus can find its way into your facility at any time via a customer, employee, guest or visitor. Learn how coronavirus spreads and how to kill it on surfaces and equipment by reading below.
HOW CORONAVIRUS SPREADS
One of the main reasons coronavirus has been able to infect so many people in such a short amount of time is because of how easily it spreads. Similar to the common cold and the flu, coronavirus spreads primarily through respiratory droplets projected into the air by a sneeze, cough, yawn, or even talking.
Respiratory droplets are basically tiny droplets of saliva that are expended from the mouth and nose. When someone is sick, their respiratory droplets are contaminated with the pathogen or microorganism that has sickened them. And when they do something that emits those contaminated droplets into the air, it puts dozens of other people at risk.
Here are some scenarios that illustrate how someone with coronavirus can spread the illness to the people around them via respiratory droplets:
– A person on an airplane coughs without covering their mouth. The virus can now infect the dozens of uninfected people on the airplane, as the air in airplanes is shared and enclosed, making it easy for the virus to sicken multiple people at a time.
– A woman verbally places an order for a large coffee at her local coffee shop. The virus can now infect the person who took her order and the people around her. Respiratory droplets can simply spread by talking, as tiny drops of saliva are often released when speaking.
– A man visiting his local library yawns while reading a book. He does not cover his mouth. The coronavirus germ is now released into the air and puts everyone at risk of contracting it.
The fact that it spreads primarily through respiratory droplets is what makes killing coronavirus so tricky. However, it can also spread from person to person via direct contact such as handshaking or kissing. Also, it can spread from surface to person if someone contaminates a surface with the virus. If the surface is not disinfected it can reside there and potentially infect anyone who touches it.
HOW LONG CAN CORONAVIRUS LIVE ON SURFACES?
Although research is still being performed, current findings indicate that novel coronavirus (COVID-19) can survive on non-porous surfaces between three to twelve hours. This is especially concerning considering how contagious it is. In order to prevent the virus from spreading from surface to person, you’ll need to disinfect the surface to eradicate it completely.
In order to do this, you’ll need to use an EPA registered disinfectant that has been proven effective against coronavirus or has it listed on the product’s kill claim.
HOW TO KILL CORONAVIRUS
If you suspect that coronavirus could be living in your facility, you’ll want to take the necessary steps to eliminate it right away. Also, it’s important to note that coronavirus can only be killed with an EPA registered disinfectant that has the virus listed on its kill claim.
A sanitizer may not be strong enough, as sanitizers only kill or remove some of common germs, not specific pathogens that can cause illness. To choose the appropriate disinfectant, you’ll need to review the product’s kill claims, dwell time, formula and chemical ingredients.
Killing coronavirus on hard surfaces (non-porous) and porous surfaces vary slightly. Here is a step-by-step list explaining how to kill the virus on each surface if you have them in your facility.
KILLING CORONAVIRUS ON HARD SURFACES
Hard surfaces are also known as non-porous surfaces. These are materials that air and liquid can’t penetrate or pass through. Examples of hard surfaces include items made out of vinyl, glass, marble, and metal. These can be tables, counters, desks, tablets, and door handles. To kill coronavirus on hard surfaces, follow the steps below:
- Step 1: Use protective gear (PPE) to ensure that you do not expose yourself to the virus. Make sure your entire body is covered from head to toe by using gloves, a face mask, long shirts, pants, etc. Leave no part of your body exposed.
- Step 2: Apply a cleaner first in order to remove any dirt or debris from the surface. This must be done before cleaning or else the disinfectant may not able to effectively kill the pathogen(s).
- Step 3: Apply an EPA registered disinfectant to the surface. You can use a wipe or liquid disinfectant, just make sure it kills the virus.
- Step 4: Allow the cleaner to sit for the recommended dwell time.
- Step 5: Let the surface air dry.
KILLING CORONAVRIUS ON POROUS SURFACES
Killing coronavirus, or germs in general, on porous surfaces can be tricky. These materials are usually made of softer or looser materials and therefore contain pores. Some examples of porous materials include leather, rubber, carpeting, clothing, and fabrics. These items can be furniture, curtains, and mats.
With porous surfaces, germs sink into the pores of the material where they dwell and multiply. Because of this, you’ll want to make sure you focus on decontaminating them frequently.
Follow these steps to kill coronavirus on porous surfaces:
- Step 1: Use protective gear (PPE) to ensure that you do not expose yourself to the virus. Make sure your entire body is covered from head to toe by using gloves, a face mask, long shirts, pants, etc. Leave no part of your body exposed.
- Step 2: Apply a cleaner first in order to remove any dirt or debris from the surface. This must be done before cleaning or else the disinfectant may not able to effectively kill the pathogen(s).
- Step 3: If it is safe for the item (read the care instructions to be sure), soak the item in the EPA registered disinfectant. Make sure it penetrates all pores and nooks and crannies of the object.
- Step 4: After the recommended dwell time, remove the item from the soak.
- Step 5: For drying, you can either let the item air dry or place it in a dryer.
HANDWASHING PROVIDES PROTECTION FROM CORONAVIRUS
The World Health Organization deems frequent and proper handwashing as one of the best forms of protection against coronavirus. Interestingly enough, 80% of infections are spread by dirty hands.
Because many people have poor hand hygiene (70% of people admitted to not washing their hands with soap after using the restroom, and only 66% of people washed their hands at all), germs and bacteria are able to spread at a rapid pace.
In fact, handwashing is the number one way that people can protect themselves against most illnesses and infections.
Here are some handwashing tips:
– Wash your hands at least 3-5 times per day. This includes after using the restroom, before and after you eat, before and after handling raw food materials, and after you come into direct contact with shared surfaces in public spaces.
– When washing your hands, be sure to wash them with antibacterial soap to kill germs that can live on your hands.
– Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds to effectively kill germs. If you’re not sure how long 20 seconds is, sing “Happy Birthday” twice or count aloud.
PROMOTING HAND WASHING IN YOUR FACILITY
Encouraging people to wash their hands can be challenging. After all, people have the freedom to wash their hands or not. How can you get them to practice proper handwashing to prevent germs from spreading via hand in your facility? Read below for some ideas.
PUT UP SIGNS
Place signs in restrooms and in hallways promoting handwashing. Signs can gently remind people to wash their hands and even teach them best practices.
HAVE HAND SANITIZER MOUNTED THROUGHOUT YOUR FACILITY
Purchase hand sanitizer dispensers to mount on walls in high-traffic areas or entryways for people to easily sanitize their hands to remove germs to keep your facility safer. You can choose between hand sanitizer gel or foam – whichever works best for your facility and is easy for people to apply.
HAVE SANITIZING WIPES READILY AVAILABLE VIA STANDS AND DISPENSERS
In addition to hand sanitizer gel or foam, you can also purchase hand sanitizing wipes, which are FDA approved to remove 99.9% of common germs on hands and skin, for your customers, employees, and guests to use. You can make sure hand sanitizing wipes are always available by purchasing a dispenser or stand to display them. Consider placing them in high-traffic areas and in entryways to remind people to keep “clean” first.
KILLING CORONAVIRUS PROTECTS YOURSELF AND YOUR CUSTOMERS
Killing coronavirus will play an important role in keeping the virus from infecting more people. Given that it now has the potential to enter your business since it has spread so quickly, you’ll need to be prepared to protect your facility, customers, and employees.
While no one could have predicted or planned for this massive outbreak, we now have a responsibility to keep it under control as much as we can. Follow the steps listed above to decontaminate surfaces and equipment, and implement these tips:
- Create a cleaning plan and a system to make cleaning easier, more organized and a high priority. Read our blog post on how to create a cleaning schedule for your facility for tips on how to develop an effective cleaning plan for your facility.
- Avoid traveling if you are sick.
- Seek medical attention ASAP if you think you could have the virus.
- Avoid large crowds.
- Practice good hygiene if you are traveling (wash hands, disinfect surfaces before and after use).
- Limit spending time with people who are sick.
To learn about coronavirus symptoms, how the coronavirus outbreak happened, and more protection tips, read our blog post on Everything We Know About Coronavirus So Far.
By The Way
These 2XL products have demonstrated effectiveness against 2019-nCoV (novel coronavirus).
2XL Force Disinfectant Wipes – Read the announcement here.
2XL C-Diffend Disinfectant Tablets – Read the announcement here.
2XL GymWipes Antibacterial – View the product page here.
2XL Force2 Disinfecting Wipes – View the product page here.
2XL Antibacterial Revolution Wipes – View the product page here.
Want to read more about COVID-19? Read our other COVID-19 pieces as part of our series:
Simple Coronavirus Protection Tips
What is Coronavirus?
5 Coronavirus Myths Debunked
Coronavirus Prevention Tips For Businesses