During the COVID-19 pandemic, every frequently touched surface outside our home seems as dangerous as a hot pot right out of the oven.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, every frequently touched surface outside our home seems as dangerous as a hot pot right out of the oven. We won’t get burned if we touch it, but we might get infected with a potentially dangerous virus.
A recent study suggests that even organized efforts to clean surfaces can fall short, a reminder for us all that keeping our surroundings clean may require some additional work.
For 5 ½ weeks, researchers tagged surfaces of a small-animal veterinary practice daily with a fluorescent dye visible only under black light. They checked tagged surfaces 24 hours later to see if the marks were showing. Surfaces were considered cleaned if the dye was completely removed.
Results showed that overall, only half of all surfaces were adequately cleaned during the study period. Human-touch surfaces – such as medical instruments, dog run handles, and computer mice and keyboards – were cleaned less frequently than areas touched primarily by animals. The results were similar to studies from other veterinary clinics.
Read more at Ohio State University
