Guide to COVID Cleaning and Disinfecting Facilities after Exposure
There have been more than 32 million cases of COVID-19 in the United States to date. Though cases are declining, more than half of Americans remain unvaccinated and at risk of infection.
COVID can live on surfaces for up to three days. Proper disinfection is essential after exposure at your facility to prevent the virus from spreading.
Read on for tips on effective COVID cleaning and disinfecting. These tips will help whether you recently had a COVID exposure at your facility or you’re preparing in case of future exposure.
COVID Cleaning Guidelines After Exposure
In the event of exposure, proper cleaning and disinfecting are essential. Here are some guidelines to follow when cleaning after an exposure.
Pick the Right Time to Clean and Disinfect
Close off the affected area immediately. Wait several hours before cleaning, or longer if possible. If it has been more than 3 days, cleaning and disinfecting are not necessary.
While you are cleaning the area, increase ventilation. Open windows and use fans and HVAC systems to increase air circulation in the area.
Wear Personal Protective Equipment
Wear fitted face coverings when cleaning after COVID exposure. You should also use disposable nitrile exam gloves. Throw away and replace the gloves if they become soiled or come into contact with body fluids.
Start With High-Touch Surfaces
Cleaning and disinfecting facility surfaces is important in the prevention and management of COVID-19 outbreaks. Cleaning high-touch surfaces should be a regular part of your COVID prevention measures each day.
High-touch surfaces include light switches, doorknobs, and countertops. Electronics like keyboards and touchscreen are also considered high-touch.
Use the Right Office Cleaning Products
The EPA published a list called List N. List N includes disinfectants that are confirmed to kill SARS-CoV-2. Select a product from this list and follow the instructions on the label.
If you do not have access to any of the products published on List N, household bleach is also effective. However, this is not applicable in healthcare settings.
Practice Proper Hand Hygiene
Proper hand hygiene is essential in preventing COVID exposure. Proper hand hygiene means washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Wash your hands immediately after cleaning in an area with COVID exposure. Avoid touching your face or other surfaces until you have cleaned your hands.
Call In the Professionals
Larger facilities require a great deal of cleaning and disinfecting. This can be burdensome and challenging. You might consider calling in professionals to disinfect your facility thoroughly and safely.
Professional disinfecting services usually involve spraying medical-grade disinfectant throughout a facility. Professionals will come equipped in full PPE.
Get Professional COVID Cleaning and Disinfecting Services Today
Ensuring that you have disinfected your facilities after a COVID exposure is challenging. COVID cleaning and disinfecting are high-risk. It is complex to ensure your disinfecting is effective.
Instead, rely on the professionals at All American Environmental. We have the products and knowledge for cleaning up after coronavirus exposure.
Contact us today to get a quote on COVID-19 disinfecting services.
