24/7 Emergency Service
Proactive Cleaning to Minimize the Transmission of Emerging Viral Pathogens (including Coronavirus)
3/13/2020 (Permalink)
SERVPRO franchise professionals have the specialized training and products to get your property back to business.
About Coronavirus
The CDC is responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus (“SARS-CoV-2”) that was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China and which has now (as of this publication) been detected in 60 locations internationally, including cases in the United States. The virus known as “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”) is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person or through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.
Scope of Cleanup
SERVPRO professionals can perform a proactive cleanup that involves facility or structure cleaning and disinfection where the customer states that there is no active known threat of COVID-19 contamination or exposure. The customer will be required to acknowledge that cleaning and disinfecting will only apply to the current state of the structure and contents. The structure would not be protected from future COVID-19 contamination if an infected person was the enter and occupy the building.
Cleanup Scope of Work and Planning
The CDC encourages cleaning of high touch surfaces such as counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and tables at a minimum. These same surfaces are mentioned in the CDC’s guidance for commercial spaces as well.
Cleaning Procedures
Cleanup procedures may vary depending on the environment, but the general guideline includes:
- Cleaning of porous and non-porous surfaces
- Disinfecting of non-porous surfaces
- Cleaning and disinfecting of equipment, tools, and/or supplies used for cleanup process
- Disposal of waste
The CDC recommends usage of a labeled Hospital Grade disinfectant with claims against viruses similar to SARS-CoV-2 (again, this is not the COVID-19 strain but a similar strain). SERVPROXIDE™ (SERVPRO’s proprietary disinfectant, is a hospital-grade disinfectant that has demonstrated effectiveness against viruses similar to SARS-CoV-2 on hard, non-porous surfaces. In addition, SERVPROXIDE™ currently has EPA-approved claims for Feline coronavirus (Strain WSU 79-1683, ATCC VR 989) and Canine coronavirus (Strain 1-71, ATCC VR-809).
Porous surfaces that are not water-sensitive, such as carpet and other fabric material, cannot be disinfected but can be sanitized using SERVPROXIDE™.