Covid-19 has dominated the headlines for much of 2020 and as the threat of the pandemic continues it’s important we all stay vigilant and continue the best practices to avoid further spread of the disease. While socially distancing in public spaces is effective to avoid contagious water droplets from people carrying the disease, new evidence has found that the novel coronavirus can actually be carried around on our shoes.
The report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in America, which is now the epicentre of the disease, details how touching surfaces infected with Covid-19 is a significant risk for contracting the disease. The realisation that contagious water droplets could be ferried around on shoes raises concern for health care workers in a clinical setting but also for those caring for infected people in their homes, or preventing pathogen spread to residents who may be shielding.
Viral load, that is, the volume of contagious water droplets present in a room, is a key consideration for the likelihood of such transmission. We release water droplets which can carry pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 when we cough and sneeze. Clinicians working in hospitals with Covid-19 patients are far more likely to come into contact with a significant viral load compared to someone taking a walk through the park.
Fortunately this means that for most of us shoes don’t represent a danger in the home, but, if you want to be extra sure, taking off shoes at the door and cleaning them with an antibacterial wipe will reduce the chances of any hitch hiking pathogens making it into your home. You can also reduce the risk of contracting any illnesses from contaminated surfaces, where pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 can survive for days, by regularly and effectively cleaning well-used parts of the home.
If you’re concerned about maintaining cleanliness in some of the busier parts of your home or office, Remora offer a wide range of intensive and bespoke cleaning services to ensure your staff and family are able to go about their day as safely as possible. Contact us to discuss which of our services could best meet your needs.
Remora is a London-based cleaning and property services company, offering the highest levels of customer service and flexibility across our range of services. Find out more about what we can do for your property here.