Covid-19 Coronavirus Disinfection

The government’s closure of schools and business in order to “flatten the curve” of the coronavirus pandemic certainly has grabbed everyone’s attention. As a medical microbiologist/immunologist I can tell you a great deal about the virus and how to minimize the risk of infection. Whether you are a front-line health care provider or a parent someone may look to you for answers. Keep the answers simple and direct.<

Remember that this virus spreads from an infected individual by small droplets. “Social Distance”, fingertip to fingertip at arms length apart, reduces the chance of inhaling the infected droplets, but the droplets land on surfaces. We touch the surfaces, then touch our faces and then become infected. The cycle repeats as it spreads throughout the populace. When we break the cycle, we control the disease. Ordinary face masks only work for a short time before they become saturated. The combination of “social distance” with proper sanitation of hands and infected surfaces provides a powerful one-two punch.

In our current situation soap remains an effective disinfectant because the soap dissolves the membrane layer of the coronavirus rendering it unable to infect others. Surfaces can be spritzed or wiped with any disinfectant. Again, soap is effective, as are solutions of Lysol, Pine-Sol, bleach, rubbing alcohol or even perfume as all of these can be used as hand sanitizers (allow hands to air dry, and use a moisturizer afterwards).

If your local stores are out of disinfectant to clean surfaces you have these options:

• rubbing alcohol at concentrations of 60%-70% (higher or lower % is not as effective)
• Pine-Sol or other branded disinfecting or soap solution can be used diluted with water 1:10
• bleach can be diluted 1:5 (not recommended for delicate surfaces)
• copper, silver or platinum infused cleaning cloths (e.g. Norwex)

For soft surfaces:

• spritz down exposed surfaces with rubbing alcohol (least damaging to the cloth)
• if possible, wash soft surfaces in a washing machine with normal detergent and hot water

I know you have heard it a million times, but we must all keep putting the information out there. Keep safe.

P.S. Antibiotics do not work against viruses.

Dr Hugh Fackrell, PhD
Professor Emeritus, University of Windsor
Staphyloccal toxins, Immune defenses, Interactions, Age related changes