CDC Announces New Information on COVID-19 Transmission and Surface Cleaning/Disinfecting
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The CDC has announced the release of a new science brief regarding COVID-19 and Surface (fomite) transmission for Indoor community environments: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/science-and-research/surface-transmission.html. CDC has also updated two guidance documents related to surface cleaning and disinfection: Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility, and Cleaning and Disinfecting at Home. Ongoing efforts are being made to update additional CDC and other federal agency websites regarding cleaning and disinfection.
Transmission of COVID-19 is primarily through exposure to respiratory droplets carrying infectious virus. The risk of surface transmission, however, is dependent on a variety of factors.
The virus that causes COVID-19 can land on surfaces. It’s possible for people to become infected if they touch those surfaces and then touch their nose, mouth, or eyes. In most situations, the risk of infection from touching a surface is low. The most reliable way to prevent infection from surfaces is to regularly wash hands or use hand sanitizer. Mask usage can reduce the contamination of surfaces.
Cleaning surfaces with soap and water or detergent reduces the amount of germs on surfaces and decreases risk of infection from those surfaces. In most situations at home and in the community, cleaning with soap or detergent is enough to remove virus particles on surfaces well enough to keep spaces clean.
However, certain facility or community conditions may warrant disinfecting in addition to cleaning surfaces. For example, if someone who is sick or positive for COVID-19 has been in a home or facility in the last 24 hours, the spaces they occupied should be disinfected. If there is high transmission of COVID-19 in the community, low mask usage, infrequent hand hygiene or if the space is occupied by people from certain risk groups, such as people at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19, disinfection may be needed to adequately reduce risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 from touching surfaces. Always follow standard practices and appropriate regulations specific to your type of facility for minimum standards for cleaning and disinfection.
Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration
