As more restaurants reopen for dine-in service, customers are paying attention to the measures being taken to protect both employees and themselves. Restaurant sanitation has always been important from a food safety perspective. Now, restaurant managers and employees must also take additional steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Preventing the spread of COVID-19 as we strive to return to normalcy requires a new level of disinfection, both indoors and outdoors. For outdoor sporting and entertainment events, disinfecting large seating areas can be costly and time-consuming. Fortunately, innovative companies and venue managers are coming up with innovative methods to protect fans, performers, and players.

School is back in session, and for many universities, team sports are also on the agenda. Individuals are starting to return to normal routines, which often means hitting the gym or attending a fitness class. Weight rooms and fitness facilities with shared equipment have always taken precautions to protect those who use them, but in the midst of an ongoing global pandemic, extra disinfection measures (using effective cleaning solutions) are being taken to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus. 

Although a full return to normal is not yet in the near future, we are increasingly reopening public and private facilities and interacting with each other more. This means we must remain vigilant about implementing cleaning solutions that help keep spaces safe. Even facilities that have always maintained a high standard of cleanliness—hospitals, schools, restaurants, and so on—need to take their practices to the next level.

Disinfectants have never been more in the limelight than they are these days. Everybody is using them, and decision makers across all industries have to decide which products to use. Unfortunately, the best choice is not always crystal clear. In addition to consumers having a limited education about the nuances of disinfectants, sanitizers, and cleaners, some disreputable companies are muddying the waters by marketing products with false claims. 

As businesses and public areas throughout the country start to reopen for visitors, maintaining safe spaces is more important than ever. Coronavirus disinfection is a top priority for families and individuals for working, shopping, banking, and running other personal errands. For the people responsible for keeping public spaces safe and healthy, there are some important considerations to bear in mind. 

The general method for application of D7 for SARS-CoV-2 disinfection operations is as follows:

Recently, there have been several news stories concerning information on the website of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about how COVID-19 spreads or is transmitted from person to person.^1,2 Several of these news stories are presenting the CDC information in a misleading way by implying that the only important method of COVID-19 spread is through airborne droplets (i.e., from coughs or sneezes from an infected person) and that COVID-19 spread from surface contact is not important. This is false and a misinterpretation of the CDC information and guidance. Here is the information about the spread of COVID-19 directly from the CDC website.³

COVID-19 may be a new virus, but this is not the first time countries have had to address an outbreak. Norovirus, which is a highly contagious virus that causes gastroenteritis, is a year-round issue, but annually there is a season during which instances of illness are more prevalent, typically from November to April. In the United States, norovirus infects 19-21 million people each year and is responsible for 570-800 deaths. Because it spreads so quickly and easily, it’s not uncommon for localized outbreaks to occur when large numbers of people gather.

As containing the spread of COVID-19 continues to be a top priority, healthcare facilities have stepped up disinfection protocols to protect both patients and staff. Although the virus is predominantly spread through droplets in the air, it may also be transferred via contaminated surfaces. Once transferred to hands, gloves, medical equipment, or shoes, it can then spread to any other surface touched by these contaminated items. In addition to limiting exposure by wearing masks, donning gloves, and other protective measures, frequently disinfecting surfaces can help reduce the spread of the virus through contact.