Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. Symptoms, which include fever, cough and shortness of breath, may appear from 2 to 14 days after exposure. Fortunately, coronaviruses are enveloped viruses, meaning they are one of the easiest types of viruses to kill with the appropriate disinfectant product and common sense steps like washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, avoiding touching your face with unwashed hands, and avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
For further information, please visit the Center for Disease Control’s COVID-19 website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html.
The situation surrounding viral outbreaks, such as COVID-19, can change rapidly. Elston Cleaning LLC will follow the recommendations of global experts, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). For further information on the Illinois outbreak, please go to https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19.html .
IDPH COVID-19 OSHA PROTECTINGUnder the EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens program, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has put together a list of EPA-registered surface disinfectant products for use against SARS-CoV-2, a coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The information about the approved products (known as “List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2”) may be found at https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2020-03/documents/sars-cov-2-list_03-03-2020.pdf.
LIST N: DISINFECTANTS
In accordance with CDC and EPA guidelines, Elston Cleaning LLC uses the following COVID-19 killing products:
• LYSOL POWER TOILET BOWL CLEANER (EPA REGISTRATION NO.: 777-132)
• CLOROX CLEAN-UP CLEANER + BLEACH (EPA REGISTRATION NO.: 5813-105)
• CLOROX DISINFECTING WIPES (EPA REGISTRATION NO.: 5813-79)
According to the CDC, diluted household bleach solutions, alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, 3% hydrogen peroxide, and most common EPA-registered household disinfectants should be effective. The American Chemistry Council's (ACC) Center for Biocide Chemistries (CBC) made a list of products approved by the EPA for use against emerging enveloped viral pathogens and can be used during the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. This list may be accessed at https://www.americanchemistry.com/Novel-Coronavirus-Fighting-Products-List.pdf.
Elston Cleaning LLC uses the following products:
• MEMBER’S MARK HAND SANITIZER (Ethyl Alcohol 70% v/v)
• MR. CLEAN MULTI-SURFACE CLEANER
• BLEACH (1/3 CUP BLEACH TO 1 GALLON WATER)
• ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL (70% SOLUTION)
Although SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) is mostly transmitted through virus-carrying respiratory droplets (airborne transmission) from person-to-person, contaminated objects and surfaces remain a risk to employees and customers. According to the CDC, viable virus loads can be detected on non-porous surfaces for days to weeks following exposure. Plastic, steel, and glass plastic harbor the virus for three days! Fortunately, because COVID-19 has an outer layer of lipids and proteins, cleaning agents are an effective means of creating a sparkling, virus-free environment.
Determining the level of threat posed by COVID-19 depends on many factors and individual risk tolerances. Additionally, COVID-19's risk of surface transmission is dependent on many factors including community infection rate, amount of virus expelled onto the surface by those infected, environmental factors (such as air flow, ventilation, heat, humidity, and evaporation), time elapsed since viral load contaminated surface, and total viral load on the object or surface.
To guide our prevention measures, Elston Cleaning monitors the community infection rates (https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_weeklyhospitaladmissions_select_00). This data provides a glimpse into the current COVID-19 rates in our communities, allowing us to focus on disinfection services if rates increase. The CDC has noted, however, that daily, effective cleaning with simple soap and water would be sufficent to reduce viral levels on surfaces. Elston Cleaning uses several products guaranteed to eradicate COVID-19.