Recent evidence suggests the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 may spread through the air in an aerosolized form, potentially complicating the greatly anticipated reopening of schools and businesses.
Addressing the Potential for the Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2
First, before we begin, a point of note--all current studies and subsequent recommendations regarding COVID-19 are incomplete, will likely take years to unpack fully, and are intended by far and large to protect the public welfare.
The concern regarding surface safety and hygiene during the COVID-19 pandemic has led many individuals to over or unsafely apply dangerous disinfectant chemicals in a manner that is not only ineffective at combatting the pathogen but may pose a higher risk to individual health.
The COVID-19 pandemic has pigeonholed our previous concept of facility cleanliness and hygiene, specifically where occupant health and safety were concerned, and a new standard must emerge to protect the common welfare.
What it Means to be Clean in a Post-COVID World
A significant contributing factor to the spread of SARS-CoV-2 was, and remains, the absence of effective cleaning and disinfection measures throughout schools and businesses across the U.S., combined with disturbingly low compliance levels regarding hand-hygiene and a near-complete void in the understanding, monitoring, and maintenance of indoor air quality.
Cleaning the air inside classrooms and businesses is a recommended precaution in the fight against SARS-CoV-2 and other airborne pathogens and diseases.
Clearing the Air Regarding the Spread of COVID-19
COVID-19 has underscored a significant gap in the manner in which we clean and disinfect occupied spaces to prevent the spread of germs--aerosolized propagation and transmission.
Due, in large part, to consumer fears regarding COVID-19 infections, restaurant cleanliness has risen in importance to diners, ranking just below food quality and taste.
Commercial Kitchen Cleanliness Ranks High With Diners
Unsurprisingly, consumer fears surrounding the potential for becoming infected with the COVID-19 virus are still high.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led to an often dangerous increase in disinfectant use, which ultimately exposes facility occupants to further short and long-term health risks if used incorrectly or irresponsibly.
Safely Disinfecting for COVID-19
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in various activities which, when used in moderation, are beneficial but, when overdone or incorrectly applied, create health hazards of their own.
In the wake of a devastating succession of cold and flu seasons combined with an ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is vital for schools and businesses to understand the process of and difference between cleaning and disinfecting.
Clean First, Then Disinfect
Cleaning and disinfecting are two of the most valuable tools for preventing the spread of pathogens and illness-causing bacteria between occupants and surfaces.
The COVID-19 pandemic hit the healthcare industry especially hard, underscoring the need for enhanced cleaning and touchpoint disinfecting in hospitals, surgery centers, and long-term care facilities.
Touchpoint Strategies for Healthcare Hotspots
Prior to the rise of COVID-19 infection, hundreds of thousands of hospital-acquired infections were reported by acute care facilities in the U.S., claiming the lives of tens of thousands of patients.
Touchpoint cleaning and disinfection is a critical component to ensuring the health and hygiene of your facility, as well as the safety and wellness of its occupants.
Touchpoint Cleaning and Disinfection for Safer Facilities
What is the most contaminated filthy area of your facility?
Hint: it's not the toilet in your restroom.
Post-COVID-19, ensuring occupant wellness through pathogen control has become mandatory for schools and businesses who wish to remain competitive in the 'new normal' of today's rapidly changing learning and business environment.
Ensuring Occupant Wellness Via Enhanced Cleaning
COVID-19 has been added to the list of communicable diseases--including influenza, Hepatitis A, Rhinovirus, and Norovirus--which plague our lives and threaten the wellness and productivity of office staff and students.