Protectus Viridis & Coronavirus We are all remarkably familiar with the word Covid-19, Coronavirus, disinfectants, masks etc. Whilst we do not have a full understanding of the virus, the symptoms it causes or the mode of transmission yet, surface disinfection and sanitisation of the hands remains an important practice to reduce transmission of the virus as advised by the WHO, CDC etc. WHO advised that the best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads. So far, we know that the COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It has also been reported in various journals, articles and news outlet that the virus can survive on surfaces for varying durations. A single cough can produce up to 3,000 particles which can land on other people, clothing and surfaces around them, but some of the smaller particles can remain in the air. According to Wells (1955), the dried out residual of droplets containing infectious pathogen is the main vehicle for transmission of airborne pathogens.
Coronaviruses are well known to be particularly resilient in terms of where they can survive. Recent studies on other coronaviruses, including SARs, MERs and the endemic human coronavirus (HCov), found they can survive on metal, glass and plastic for as long as nine days, unless they are properly disinfected, with some surviving for up to 28 days in low temperatures (Kampf et al, 2020) Whilst there are no specific vaccines or treatments for COVID-19 at the moment, many ongoing clinical trials are evaluating potential treatments such as antibodies, vaccines etc. Several independent laboratories and research facilities are racing against time to provide disinfectant efficacy testing to provide data for efficacy against the coronavirus. These tests are done using surrogate viruses to justify claims against the Wuhan virus. Although laboratory tests following EPA or EN standard tests are frequently done on clinical strains, some viruses have always been done using a surrogate virus for health and safety reasons. Residual Barrier Technology has been working tirelessly alongside these research and testing laboratories to ensure that our product range can effectively kill the coronavirus, supported with reliable data following approved testing standards. The minimum requirement for a claim efficacy against coronaviruses including the Wuhan coronavirus is to pass the EN 14476:2013 + A2 2019 or EN 14476: 2013 + A1 2015 (hand products) against vaccinia virus (at less than 2 minutes for hand products and less than 5 minutes for surface products). ProtectUs Viridis, at a dilution of 3% (our recommended RTU solution) is effective against all enveloped viruses, including the Wuhan coronavirus within 5 minutes. Please contact us for more detail. References: G. Kampf, D. Todt, S. Pfaender and E. Steinmann, Persistence of coronaviruses on inanimate surfaces and their inactivation with biocidal agents. The Journal of Hospital Infection, VOLUME 104, ISSUE 3, P246-251, MARCH 01, 2020 Wells WF. Airborne contagion and air hygiene. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; 1955. |