I hope this doesn't start an "ideological war", but from what I get from the most recent data is Covid-19 is spread mostly through the air. So seeing things like Las Vegas wiping down the one armed bandits makes me shake my head.
I agree, but I think a lot of the actions being taken are to make skittish people feel more comfortable. There's certainly no harm done by keeping surfaces squeaky clean!
Wiping surfaces with a disinfectant is totally logical...someone with the virus sneezes onto a hard surface (e.g. one arm bandit) the virus is there for a few hours. You walk up, drop your coin, pull the lever, you now have the virus on your fingers. You rub your eyes. You transfer the virus to your eyes.
Seems to be a pretty straight forward science based factoid.
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/prevention-risks.html?&utm_campaign=gc-hc-sc-coronavirus2021-ao-2021-0005-10020125402&utm_medium=search&utm_source=google-ads-107800103024&utm_content=text-en-434525470062&utm_term=%2Bcovid-19
How coronavirus spreads
Human coronaviruses cause infections of the nose, throat and lungs. They are most commonly spread from an infected person through:
1. respiratory droplets generated when you cough or sneeze
2. close, prolonged personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
3. touching something with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands
Current evidence suggests person-to-person spread is efficient when there is close contact.
Survival of coronaviruses on surfaces
It is not certain how long COVID-19 survives on surfaces, but it seems to behave like other coronaviruses. Preliminary information on COVID-19 suggests that the virus may persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days depending on different conditions, such as:
temperature
type of surface
humidity of the environment
Surfaces frequently touched with hands are most likely to be contaminated, including:
tables
handrails
doorknobs
electronics
countertops
light switches
faucet handles
cabinet handles
elevator buttons
Cleaning
Coronaviruses are one of the easiest types of viruses to kill with the appropriate disinfectant product when used according to the label directions. Health Canada has published a list of hard surface disinfectants that are likely to be effective for use against COVID-19.
Although they do not claim to kill COVID-19, cleaners can play a role in limiting the transfer of microorganisms. Health Canada recommends cleaning high-touch hard surfaces often, using either regular household cleaners or diluted bleach according to the label directions. This bleach solution should be prepared according to the instructions on the label or in a ratio of 250 mL (1 cup) of water per 5 mL (1 teaspoon) of bleach. Directions are based on bleach that is 5% sodium hypochlorite, to give a 0.1% sodium hypochlorite solution. Never mix bleach with other chemical products and use it in a well-ventilated area. Special precautions must be used when cleaning with bleach to avoid serious incidents.
These surfaces include:
toilets
phones
electronics
door handles
bedside tables
television remotes
Refer to the guidance on cleaning and disinfecting public spaces for more information.
Wearing masks or face coverings
Medical masks, including surgical, medical procedure face masks and respirators (like N95 masks), must be kept for health care workers and others providing direct care to COVID-19 patients.
Wearing a non-medical mask or face covering while out in public is recommended for periods of time when it is not possible to consistently maintain a 2-metre physical distance from others, particularly in crowded public settings, such as:
stores
shopping areas
public transportation
Public health officials will make recommendations based on a number of factors, including the rates of infection and/or transmission in the community. Recommendations may vary from location to location.
If you do choose to wear one, refer to the:
guidelines on wearing non-medical masks and how to make your own
COVID-19 Special Advisory Committee's recommendations on the use of non-medical cloth masks or face coverings in community settings
Masks alone will not prevent the spread of COVID-19. You must consistently and strictly adhere to good hygiene and public health measures, including frequent hand washing and physical (social) distancing.
Risks of getting coronavirus
COVID-19 is a serious health threat, and the situation is evolving daily. The risk will vary between and within communities, but given the increasing number of cases in Canada, the risk to Canadians is considered high.
This does not mean that all Canadians will get the disease. It means that there is already a significant impact on our health care system. If we do not flatten the epidemic curve now, the increase of COVID-19 cases could impact health care resources available to Canadians.
The risk for COVID-19 may be increased for certain settings such as:
cruise ships
crowded areas (such as public transit and shopping centres)
gatherings (spiritual and cultural settings, theatres, sports arenas, festivals and conferences)
.
