Which surfaces you should prioritize for disinfection in non health care settings??

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.

Which surface disinfectant are effective against COVID 19 in non health care settings??

Freshly prepared 0.1% sodium or hypochlorite or 70-90% alcohol can be used. 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 guidance for the disinfection of outdoor spaces such as open markets, roads??

In outdoor spaces, large-scale spraying or fumigation in areas such as streets or open market places for the COVID-19 virus or other pathogens is not recommended. 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. This practice will be ineffective since the presence of dirt or rubbish for example, inactivates the disinfectant, and manual cleaning to physically remove all matter is not feasible.

Are public systems for disinfecting individuals such as spraying via tunnel or chambers safe to use?

No. Spraying of individuals with disinfectants (such as in a tunnel, cabinet, or chamber) is not recommended under any circumstances. This practice could be physically and psychologically harmful and would not reduce an infected person’s ability to spread the virus through droplets or contact. Even if someone who is infected with COVID-19 goes through a disinfection tunnel or chamber, as soon as they start speaking, coughing or sneezing they can still spread the virus.

What are the recommended practices once back home after outdoor activities??

Thorough hand hygiene: washing hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand gel, should be performed before touching anywhere.

Are gloves recommended for the community in public spaces to protect against COVID-19, for example when going to the grocery store supermarket?

No. The use of gloves by the public in public spaces is not a recommended or proven prevention measure. Wearing gloves in public spaces does not replace the need for hand hygiene, nor does it offer any additional measure of protection against the COVID-19 virus than hand hygiene.

How should I clean food items from the grocery store, for example fruit, vegetables or packaged items??

There is no evidence to date of viruses that cause respiratory illnesses being transmitted via food or food packaging. Coronaviruses cannot multiply in food; they need an animal or human host to multiply. Before preparing or eating food it is important to always wash your hands with soap and water for at least 40-60 seconds.

Reference : WHO Website - https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/question-and-answers-hub/q-a-detail/q-a-considerations-for-the-cleaning-and-disinfection-of-environmental-surfaces-in-the-context-of-covid-19-in-non-health-care-settings

Myth: flies can transmit SARS-CoV-2 ( feco- oral route) Fact: There is possibility of extended duration of viral shedding in faeces, for nearly 5 weeks after the patient's respiratory samples tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Although knowledge about viability of SARS-CoV-2 in faeces sample is limited as RT- PCR can not differentiate between live and dead virus. No cases of transmission via feco- oral route has been documented for SARS-CoV-2 as of now. After further research on viability and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 in faeces sample we will come to if feco- oral transmission is possible or not? As of now no documented case via this route.

Reference : WHO Website