COVID-19 eradication using disinfectants is enough to break the fragile wrapper outside the virus-cell, rendering them useless. COVID-19 can survive on metal, glass, or plastic surfaces for 2 to 9 days. 

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a new respiratory virus that causes acute respiratory infections in humans and shows a human-to-human spread. The virus was identified in an outbreak investigation that originated in a market that sells seafood and animals in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.

COVID-19 is an unknown virus that has not been previously identified. There are six other coronavirus strains known today that have the potential to infect humans.

Transmission

The symptoms can be fever, cough, and dyspnea. The incubation period for COVID-19 is currently estimated to be between 2 and 14 days after exposure. 

At this stage, we know that the virus can be transmitted when infected people have symptoms (like the flu). However, there is still uncertainty about whether mild or asymptomatic cases can transmit the virus.

By onset, COVID-19 can develop severe pneumonia, progressive respiratory failure, and death, especially in people with chronic illness, immunodeficiency.

The main route of transmission of COVID-19 from person to person is through droplets sprayed from the mouth or nose when we cough, sneeze, laugh, write, breathe and talk.

People who contact patients within 2m are at a high risk of infection. Also, the virus can be spread indirectly by touching objects and then touching their mouth, nose, and eyes. 

The incubation period for COVID-19 is currently estimated to be between 2 and 14 days after exposure. 

What can people do to avoid getting infected by the coronavirus?

• Limit direct contact with people with acute respiratory illness (fever, cough, shortness of breath); when necessary, wear a proper medical mask and keep over 2 meters away when in contact.
• People with symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath should not travel to crowd places. Immediately notify the health authorities of the above symptoms.
• Wash your hands often with soap, and clean water for at least 30 seconds. In the absence of soap and clean water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer; gargling mouth and throat with saltwater or mouthwash, avoiding touching hands, eyes, nose, mouth to prevent infection.
• When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose, preferably with a cloth or handkerchief, or a sleeve. This can limit the spread of respiratory secretions. Do not spit indiscriminately in public.
• Only use cooked food.
• Limit going to public places. If you go there, you need to apply personal protective measures such as using masks, dry hand washes.
• Avoid trading, touching pets or wild animals.
• Keep your body warm, improve health by exercise and nutritious food. 
• Enhance the ventilation of the housing area by opening doors and windows, limiting the use of air conditioners. Clean floors, doorknobs and surfaces of household objects. 

Why it’s a serious matter in Sydney

Australia currently records 1,051 cases of COVID-19, including seven deaths, most of which are in New South Wales (436 cases and six deaths).

On the morning of March 21, New South Wales state officials reported an additional 83 recent cases of COVID-19 infection, – this is the highest level of cases detected per day.’

New South Wales state health agency urges people to obey travel restrictions and keep a safe distance, enact a ban on travel to Lord Howe Island – one of the state’s farthest islands; officially closed Bondi beach – one of the famous tourist destinations in the world.

Nearly 3,800 passengers and crew on the Ruby Princess yacht, docked in Sydney on March 19, also voluntarily quarantined, after 4 travellers on the cruise ship gave positive results with COVID-19. In Victoria, Australia’s second-most populous state announced 51 more cases in the morning, bringing the total number of people infected to 229. Queensland, meanwhile, reported 37 new infections, bringing the total to 221. 

Home disinfection and office disinfection

Research shows that coronavirus can be deactivated in just a minute by disinfecting surfaces with alcohol concentration between 62%-71% or 0.5% hydrogen peroxide bleach or household bleach containing 0.1% sodium hypochlorite. Higher temperatures and humidity also cause other coronaviruses to die faster.

To clean and disinfect COVID-19, we need to follow the seven guidelines below:

1. Disinfect with a regular detergent such as multi-purpose cleaning spray bottle or mixed domestic toilet cleaning solution (containing about 5% sodium hypochlorite) in a ratio of 10ml of cleaning solution to 1 litre of water or a solution containing 0.05% active chlorine. 
2. Prioritise disinfection by cleaning. Use rubber gloves and masks when cleaning and disinfecting.
3. Surfaces cleaned with soap and water before disinfection.
4. Disinfect at least daily for locations of floors, walls, tables, chairs, objects, surfaces at risk of contact and toilets.
5. Disinfect at least twice a day for places with frequent touching such as doorknobs, stair handrails, handrails, elevator buttons, electric switches, computer keyboards, conditioners, remote control, shared phones. Turn off electronics, light switches before disinfecting.
6. Arrange enough garbage bins with lids.
7. Collect and dispose waste regularly according to regulations.

Many disinfectants will kill Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA or Golden Staph), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E Coli, Enterococcus Faecalis (VRE), Acinetobacter, Acetobacter, Salmonella choleraesuis and Proteus Vulgaris.

How can we help prevent the spread of the coronavirus?

Our team offers anti-microbial cold fogging using a hospital-grade disinfectant. You can book our home, office or commercial property disinfection anywhere in Sydney.

Why should you book us?

• Fully-trained specialists
• Approved by the Department of Health to conduct infection control
• Flexible schedule (Off-hours spraying)
• Thorough and fast cold fogging

For a FREE consultation, call (02) 8007 4666!

COVID-19 Prevention

As Coronavirus is spreading rapidly around the world, we must carry out necessary protective measures and minimise our exposure to this virus. Washing your hands is one of the essential things you can do, but the virus can still linger on the surfaces you touch every day, like your belongings, household appliances, etc. So it is recommended that you should sanitise your home, workspaces and especially your car regularly. We all spend hours in our car, but few of us pay attention to the fact that there are so many touchpoints in a car accumulated with germs and viruses. How can you properly disinfect your car against viruses without damaging the interior?

Choose the right cleaning products.

The first step is to choose the materials and cleaning agents that are suitable for the interior of your car. Make sure to follow the guidance on manufacturer labels. Isopropyl alcohol (70% or higher) can use in most car interior surfaces, including steering wheel, seat adjusters, doors, handles, armrests, dash, console, gear shift, cup holders. The wiping with a microfiber cloth that sweeps away dirt thoroughly as well as prevents scratches. 

However, you should not use Isopropyl alcohol for leather because it can remove the dye from the leather and damage the coating. A mix of soap and water is safe and effective for leather steering wheels, trim, or seating. The cleanser doesn’t need to be antibacterial — regular hand soap or dishwashing soap is effective against the Coronavirus. 

Remember not to scrub hard when cleaning the leather interior to avoid discolouration. If your car’s upholstery is made of fabric, make sure to use a small amount of water and laundry detergent to lightly agitate the fabric instead of cleaning it with too much water or too much soap.  

Two other things you must not use on the inside of your car are bleach and hydrogen peroxide since they can damage vinyl and plastic as well as discolour your vehicle. Chlorine bleach is also harmful to the car’s interior and could weaken the fabric if getting on the seat belts. Additionally, ammonia-based cleaners, if used on car touch screens, will likely spoil their anti-glare and anti-fingerprint coatings.

If you find it hard to buy cleaning materials, look online for instructions on how to make home-made alternatives. Be cautious of which chemicals to use; otherwise, your car will be damaged or discoloured. Popular options would include window cleaner for windows, windshields, or baking soda and warm water. 

Clean surfaces where droplets would fall.

While cleaning your car, you should consider where droplets would fall when you or your passengers sneeze and cough. Also, you must prioritise the frequently touched areas, including door handles, seat belts, handbrake, dashboard controls, seats, gear stick, and so on. Put more effort into cleaning the exterior door handles and the area around the window or centre console. You touch them more often than you think and they could carry Coronavirus.

The most important part is the steering wheel, which carries about four times the amount of germs found on a toilet seat due to the cracks and crevices on the rim and spokes, according to research. Use disinfecting wipes to sanitise the wheel and all the relevant parts, such as voice control, cruise control, navigation.

You should not forget to vacuum the carpet of your car each week or even twice a week to minimise the infections. In case you do not have a car vacuum, take a microfiber cloth, then spray some disinfectant spray on the fabric and wipe over your carpet. 

Wear disposable gloves when cleaning your car.

Take advantage of disposable gloves while cleaning to protect your hands against the chemicals and also the spread of viruses. Once you have finished the cleaning process, dispose of the gloves, and wash your hands immediately. Under no circumstances should you reuse the gloves as they can spread the virus to other surfaces.

Wash your hands.

Once you have finished cleaning wash your hands under running water with soap carefully for 20 seconds so that the dirt can not be put back on the frequently touched surfaces in your car. Washing your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer also reduces the risk of catching the virus, so you should keep this habit. 

These tips will help keep your car germ-free to minimise the risk of infection. Even after disinfection, limit the time using your vehicle for the next few weeks in a bid to curb the pandemic.

For enquiries about our pest control or antimicrobial satinisation services, please call (02) 8007 4666.