COVID-19 has evolved into a global threat since its inception at the end of 2019. Last week, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, continuing to disrupt daily life across the globe.
While COVID-19 as a disease is dangerous, the real danger so far has been its ability to spread rapidly and overwhelm the healthcare system in many countries.
Italy has suffered significantly from the covert and rapid spread of COVID-19, with approximately 2100 deaths[1] so far. The situation is dire. In the United States, the CDC has deemed three states as “experiencing sustained community-spread“.[2]
Amid growing concern, infection control has captured public attention. The rapid spread of COVID-19 has shifted the spotlight on the crucial role that cleaning and disinfecting play in stopping the spread of pathogens.
Since there is no medicine or vaccine to treat COVID-19, prevention is the only way to stop the spread of the virus. COVID-19 spreads primarily in two ways[3]:
1. Through respiratory droplets produced by an infected person who coughs or sneezes.
2. Close contact with other people, usually within 6 feet.
Another less common way that a person can get COVID-19 is from touching an infected surface and then touching your mouth, nose, or ears.
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS
Older adults and people with pre-existing medical conditions are at a higher risk for developing complications from COVID-19 and account for most of the deaths related to COVID-19.
HOW TO CONTROL THE SPREAD OF COVID-19
Health officials have urged the public to take the following precautions:
- Wash hands frequently
- Avoid close contact with other people, like shaking hands
- Stay home when sick
- Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue rather than your hands
- Wear a facemask only if you are ill or exposed to someone who is sick
- Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces
Most of these actions fall on the shoulders of the individual, but facilities also have a responsibility to clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
DO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TOOLS?
Only recently discovered, COVID-19 can live on cardboard for up to 24 hours, and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel [4]. Disinfection is critical. Person-to-person transmission is more common, but it is possible to get sick after touching a contaminated surface and then your face.
With proper disinfection, COVID-19 can be removed from a surface. Disinfection of high-touch surfaces can help protect public health. If you oversee the maintenance of a facility, ask yourself: do you have the right tools for infection control?
TOOLS FOR DISINFECTION
The tools used to apply disinfectant to a surface can make all the difference. Trigger sprayers are often associated with cleaning, but they aren’t the most effective choice.
Trigger sprayers are unable to:
Provide Adequate Surface Coverage & Adhesion
Many trigger sprayers cannot spray a fine mist that clings to and wraps around high-touch surfaces, requiring the end-user to wipe the surface, which increases the risk for cross-contamination.
Survive Caustic Chemical Solutions
Many trigger sprayers are not built to withstand chemical solutions that are highly acidic or alkaline. Constant use of caustic chemical solutions will eventually degrade the seal inside a trigger sprayer, leading to leaks that expose workers to harsh chemicals.
SOLO SPRAYERS FOR OPTIMAL INFECTION CONTROL
Not many people know there are other sprayer options when it comes to cleaning. Solo has engineered sprayers that are optimal for infection control.
302-A
Replace your trigger sprayer with a portable and durable one-hand pump sprayer. Designed for use with acidic chemical solutions that are 1-7 pH, the 302-A can stand up to the harshest disinfectants.
Use the 302-A to clean high-touch surfaces, like doorknobs, railings in public transportation, and much more. The 302-A can apply a fine mist that wraps around a high-touch surface without saturating them.
305-A
Solo’s 305-A is a durable 1.5-gallon sprayer built with the professional user in mind. A 28” unbreakable wand with a professional shut-off valve for extended-reach allows the end-user to clean in hard-to-reach places. Excellent for use in nursing homes, hospitals, and other healthcare environments.
417-Li
Disinfect faster with the 417-Li’s highly efficient 11 V pump. Cover large facilities quickly and efficiently. Run time is 5.9 hours on the lowest setting of 36 psi and 3.5 hours on the highest setting of 62 psi.
[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/16/world/europe/italy-coronavirus-funerals.html
[2] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/transmission.html
[3] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/transmission.html
[4] https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/coronavirus-resource-center