Statement from Chuck Crawford, Ph.D., GOJO Chief Innovation Officer
This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued guidance that caused some confusion. In its recent Science Brief for SARS-CoV-2 and Surface Transmission for Indoor Community Environments, the CDC concluded that,
“The principle mode by which people are infected with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) is through exposure to respiratory droplets carrying infectious virus. It is possible for people to be infected through contact with contaminated surfaces or objects (fomites), but the risk is generally considered to be low. The risk of fomite transmission can be reduced by wearing masks consistently, and correctly, practicing hand hygiene, cleaning, and taking other measures to maintain healthy facilities.”
While surface transmission of COVID-19 may be generally low, a person could have COVID-19 and show no symptoms for 14 days and may be contagious 48 hours before starting to experience symptoms. This is why decreasing diligent surface disinfecting at schools, restaurants, airplanes, and grocery stores could not only increase cases of COVID but other infectious diseases, such as cold, flu, or norovirus. In addition, according to the CDC, in situations when there has been a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 indoors within the last 24 hours, the presence of infectious virus on surfaces is more likely, and therefore high-touch surfaces should be disinfected.
It is our scientific point of view, since people with COVID-19 (and many infectious diseases, including cold and flu) can be contagious yet not show symptoms for many days, risks associated with fomite transmission can be further mitigated through frequent disinfection of high-touch surfaces, particularly surfaces present where masks are not consistently worn, such as school cafeteria tables, restaurant tables, and airplane tray tables. Disinfection of high-touch surfaces with products proven to be highly effective with low toxicity, like PURELL® Surface Spray, is a simple, proactive measure to reduce potential fomite transmission and is in the best interest of public health.