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Why should businesses not skim on their disinfection routine even as COVID-19 subsides?

Now that businesses are back in full force with the easing of the restrictions on Covid-19 prevention, are businesses keeping up with their responsibilities in providing a safe environment for their customers and staff? It is more important than it seems, for businesses to elevate their disinfection efforts at this time. Here is why.

Concerns on “Long-Covid” and its lasting effects

Studies have shown that severe Covid-19 infections can lead to cognitive impairment which is comparable to 20 years of aging between 50 to 70 years old.¹ This effect is the same as losing 10 IQ points, and can remain for more than half a year after the sickness.¹

Tiredness, “brain fog”, sleep disorder, restlessness, difficulties in recalling words, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are some of the symptoms experienced by patients months after being infected.¹

Furthermore, evidence has shown that the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for the Covid-19 pandemic can infect the brain cells directly.¹ Even mild cases of infection by the virus can cause shrinking of the brain, as shown by the brain imaging study.¹

In addition, recovered patients were found to react slower and less accurate compared to their matched control, and these impacts were still seen even 10 months after hospitalization.¹

Adopting a disinfection routine protects staff from other harmful bacteria, germs and molds

It’s not just Covid, there are harmful bacteria and germs, molds, and other pathogens around us too. It is known that the human body sheds millions of bacteria and microbes hourly.² If left in an optimal environment long enough, they can ultimately grow enough to cause odour and possible infections, if the bacteria is a pathogen.²

Disinfection routines are especially important in workplaces. A study by the University of Arizona has found that an average desk carries 100 times more bacteria than a kitchen bench and 400 times more than an average toilet.³

Contrary to the common perception, the study shows that surfaces in personal workspaces contain more bacteria than the surfaces in common areas.³ Telephones, desks, water dispenser handles, microwave oven handles and computer keyboards are the top choices of bacteria as their homes.³

An experiment carried out in an office in the UA (University of Arizona) shows that after merely four hours, more than half the commonly touched surfaces and employees were infected with at least one type of virus. The experiment was conducted with only 1 person out of 80 being given droplets containing artificial viruses on his or her hand at the start of the workday.

Communicable Diseases like Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease is making a comeback

Despite the seemingly decreasing Covid-19 cases, sanitization efforts should not be neglected as the transmission of communicable diseases that were limited due to Covid-19 restrictions may emerge again.

The previously decreased rates in other communicable diseases may have a direct correlation to the preventive efforts put in place to curb the Covid-19 spread.

Evidence showed that infection incidence rates are increasing again with the lifting of social restrictions. These trends in the non-SARS-CoV-2 infection incidence rates suggest that early preparation is crucial as the global vaccination rate increases and restrictions lifted.

For instance, the transmission of communicable diseases such as Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease, and Influenza has increased again. In mid-May 2022, Malaysia has recorded 31661 cases of the Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease, which is 15 times higher compared to the previous year. The outbreak occurred largely in kindergartens, nurseries and pre-schools.

Conclusion

The long-lasting impacts of the Covid-19 infections and all the other reasons above suggest that preventive measures and disinfection routines within our own capacity should not be neglected, even with the official relaxation of mandates.

Many companies use traditional cleaning services for disinfecting their business premises. However, traditional cleaning services cannot account for human error, are costly, time-consuming, invasive, can trigger allergies, and are dependent upon time and staffing resources.

Instead of solely relying on traditional cleaning services for disinfection, companies should consider a fully automated system of disinfection. New technologies have emerged, like the Ecosparks LED UV-C Automated Disinfection system that allows an effortless daily disinfection routine, which can save companies time, and money and more importantly, keeps business premises free from harmful bacteria, virus, and pathogens, Covid-19 or not.

References

1. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/covid-severe-icu-cognitive-mental-health-problems-long-2665401

2. https://www.wellandgood.com/how-to-clean-a-couch/

3. https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2002/03/25/daily53.html

4. https://news.arizona.edu/story/germs-spread-fast-at-work-study-finds

5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8808334/

6. https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2022/05/17/health-ministry-malaysia-records-31661-hfmd-cases-15-times-higher-compared/2059331