What are the cleaning and disinfection recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic?

See full answerWhat are the cleaning and disinfection recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Regular cleaning plays a vital role in limiting the transmission of COVID-19.

Reducing clutter and removing difficult to clean items can make cleaning easier. Increase the frequency of cleaning, using standard cleaning products such as detergents and bleach, paying attention to all surfaces but especially ones that are touched frequently, such as door handles, light switches, work surfaces, remote controls and electronic devices.

As a minimum, frequently touched surfaces should be wiped down twice a day, and one of these should be at the beginning or the end of the working day. Cleaning should be more frequent depending on the number of people using the space, whether they are entering and exiting the setting and access to handwashing and hand-sanitising facilities. Cleaning of frequently touched surfaces is particularly important in bathrooms and communal kitchens.

What are the recommended surfaces to clean and disinfect during the COVID-19 pandemic?

High-touch surfaces in these non-health care settings should be identified for priority disinfection such as door and window handles, kitchen and food preparation areas, counter tops, bathroom surfaces, toilets and taps, touchscreen personal devices, personal computer keyboards, and work surfaces.

What are the recommendations on use of disinfectants to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease?

In non-health care settings, sodium hypochlorite (bleach / chlorine) may be used at a recommended concentration of 0.1% or 1,000ppm (1 part of 5% strength household bleach to 49 parts of water). Alcohol at 70-90% can also be used for surface disinfection.

Surfaces must be cleaned with water and soap or a detergent first to remove dirt, followed by disinfection. Cleaning should always start from the least soiled (cleanest) area to the most soiled (dirtiest) area in order to not spread the dirty to areas that are less soiled.

What is the best household disinfectant for surfaces during COVID-19?

Regular household cleaning and disinfection products will effectively eliminate the virus from household surfaces. For cleaning and disinfecting households with suspected or confirmed COVID19, surface virucidal disinfectants, such as 0.05% sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) and products based on ethanol (at least 70%), should be used.

What is recommended to do to reduce the risk of COVID-19 in the workplace?

Keeping workplaces clean reduces the risk of infection and can reduce sickness in a workforce. It's especially important to clean surfaces that people touch a lot.

Staff can be supported to maintain a clean working environment by providing them with cleaning products, soap and hot water, and/or sanitiser.

How can you protect yourself from COVID-19?

Protect yourself and others from infection by staying at least 1 metre apart from others, wearing a properly fitted mask, and washing your hands or using an alcohol-based rub frequently. Get vaccinated when it's your turn and follow local guidance.

What is one way of preventing COVID-19 transmission?

Limit close contact with other people outside your household as much as possible. Meet outside and try and stay at least 2 metres apart from them

How long does the virus that causes COVID-19 last on surfaces?

Recent research evaluated the survival of the COVID-19 virus on different surfaces and reported that the virus can remain viable for up to 72 hours on plastic and stainless steel, up to four hours on copper, and up to 24 hours on cardboard.

Do I have to sanitise food packaging?

Food packaging If you have been shopping, there should be no need to sanitise the outer packaging of food. This is because food businesses are required to have a system for managing food safety in place, which should include keeping packaging clean. You should still follow good hygiene practice by washing your hands after handling any outer packaging.

How can I protect myself and others when using disinfectants?

Disinfectant solutions should always be prepared in well-ventilated areas. Wash your hands after using any disinfectant, including surface wipes. Keep lids tightly closed when not in use. Spills and accidents are more likely to happen when containers are open. Do not allow children to use disinfectant wipes. Keep cleaning fluids and disinfectants out of the reach of children and pets.
Throw away disposable items like gloves and masks if they are used during cleaning. Do not clean and re-use.
Do not use disinfectant wipes to clean hands or as baby wipes.

What protective measures should I take while using disinfectants?

• The disinfectant and its concentration should be carefully selected to avoid damaging surfaces
and to avoid or minimize toxic effects on household members (or users of public spaces).
• Avoid combining disinfectants, such as bleach and ammonia, since mixtures can cause
respiratory irritation and release potentially fatal gases.
• Keep children, pets and other people away during the application of the product until it is dry and
there is no odour.
• Open windows and use fans to ventilate. Step away from odours if they become too strong.
• Disinfectant solutions should always be prepared in well-ventilated areas.
• Wash your hands after using any disinfectant, including surface wipes.
• Keep lids tightly closed when not in use. Spills and accidents are more likely to happen when
containers are open.
• Do not allow children to use disinfectant wipes. Keep cleaning fluids and disinfectants out of the
reach of children and pets.

What areas should be prioritized for disinfection in non health care settings during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Disinfection practices are important to reduce the potential for COVID-19 virus contamination in non-healthcare settings, such as in the home, office, schools, gyms, publicly accessible buildings, faith-based community centres, markets, transportation and business settings or restaurants. High-touch surfaces in these non-health care settings should be identified for priority disinfection such as door and window handles, kitchen and food preparation areas, counter tops, bathroom surfaces, toilets and taps, touchscreen personal devices, personal computer keyboards, and work surfaces.

Can we spray disinfectants on streets and sidewalks during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Streets and sidewalks are not considered as routes of infection for COVID-19. Spraying disinfectants, even outdoors, can be noxious for people's health and cause eye, respiratory or skin irritation or damage.

Should food packaging be washed clean during the coronavirus pandemic?

If you have been shopping, there should be no need to sanitise the outer packaging of food. This is because food businesses are required to have a system for managing food safety in place, which should include keeping packaging clean.

Is fumigation effective against the coronavirus disease?

In indoor spaces, routine application of disinfectants to environmental surfaces by spraying or fogging (also known as fumigation or misting) is not recommended for COVID- 19.

One study has shown that spraying as a primary disinfection strategy is ineffective in removing contaminants outside of direct spray zones.

Should I wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when cleaning surfaces?

When cleaning surfaces, it is not necessary to wear personal protective equipment ( PPE ) or clothing over and above what would usually be used.

Can you get the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from packaging?

The risk of imported food and packaging from affected countries being contaminated with coronavirus is very unlikely. This is because the law requires the exporter to follow the right controls during the packing and shipping process to ensure good hygiene is met.

Can the coronavirus disease spread through food?

It is very unlikely that COVID-19 is transmitted through food. However, as a matter of good hygiene practice, anyone handling food should wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before doing so. Crockery and eating utensils should not be shared. Clean frequently touched surfaces regularly.

Can COVID-19 be transmitted through food?

There is currently no evidence that people can catch COVID-19 from food. The virus that causes COVID-19 can be killed at temperatures similar to that of other known viruses and bacteria found in food.

In what conditions does COVID-19 survive the longest?

Coronaviruses die very quickly when exposed to the UV light in sunlight. Like other enveloped viruses, SARS-CoV-2 survives longest when the temperature is at room temperature or lower, and when the relative humidity is low (<50%).

How should you wash your hands properly during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or using hand sanitizer, regularly throughout the day will reduce the risk of catching or passing on the virus.

How do you disinfect 'high touch' surfaces to lower the chance of spreading COVID-19 in a non-healthcare setting?

Surfaces must be cleaned with water and soap or a detergent first to remove dirt, followed by disinfection. Cleaning should always start from the least soiled (cleanest) area to the most soiled (dirtiest) area in order to not spread the dirty to areas that are less soiled.

All disinfectant solutions should be stored in opaque containers, in a well-ventilated, covered area that is not exposed to direct sunlight and ideally should be freshly prepared every day. In indoor spaces, routine application of disinfectants to surfaces via spraying is not recommended for COVID-19.

How is COVID-19 transmitted?

SARS-CoV-2 is primarily transmitted between people through respiratory particles (droplet and aerosol) and indirect contact through fomite transmission (contact with contaminated surfaces). When someone with COVID-19 breathes, speaks, coughs or sneezes, they release droplet or aerosol particles containing SARS-CoV-2 .

How long after having COVID-19 can I get the spring booster vaccine?

If you are unwell, wait until you have recovered to have your vaccine. If you have had confirmed COVID-19 you should ideally wait 4 weeks before having your spring booster.

How does fresh air help to prevent the spread of COVID-19?

Bringing fresh air into a room and removing older stale air that contains virus particles reduces the chance of spreading COVID-19. The more fresh air that is brought inside, the quicker any airborne virus will be removed from the room.