Which COVID-19 Variant Lasts on Surfaces Longer?
With different variants of the COVID-19 virus continuing to surface, the number of people affected has continued to surge since early 2020 in the United States. While it can feel daunting knowing that viruses constantly change and new variants of the virus are expected to occur, there are ways you can protect yourself and your home with the right education.
The CDC continues to monitor the coronavirus and publishes new and updated information almost daily. While there have been dozens of variants with Delta and Omicron being the most well-known, it’s important to continue to disinfect high-touch surfaces in your home and protect you and your family against COVID-19.
Omicron lasts longer than other variants
According to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Omicron variant lasts significantly longer on surfaces than other variants. In fact, researchers reported that the Omicron variant is able to survive on skin and plastic more than twice as long as the original Wuhan strain. One particular study showed that Omicron survived on plastic for 193.5 hours and on skin for 21.1 hours.
Luckily, disinfecting still works in helping to protect yourself from risk of infection, but with a highly contagious variant like Omicron, it’s imperative that you are diligent in your cleaning and/or hire outside help if you need it.
How COVID-19 spreads
The World Health Organization advises COVID transmission mainly occurs during close personal contact and via aerosols in poorly ventilated or crowded spaces. But the WHO also acknowledges people can become infected by touching their eyes, nose, or mouth after coming into contact with contaminated objects or surfaces. This is why it’s incredibly important to not only protect yourself and stay away from others when you’re sick, but also to disinfect objects or surfaces often, especially after they’ve come into contact with someone infected.
Cleaning tips to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on surfaces
The CDC recommends first cleaning visibly dirty surfaces and then disinfecting them as a best practice for preventing COVID-19. They also break down the difference between cleaning and disinfecting by saying “Cleaning refers to the removal of germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces whereas, disinfecting refers to using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces”.
There are dozens of options when it comes to cleaning and sanitizing agents in your local grocery or online shop. Some are more toxic than others and it’s up to you to purchase the products you trust and know. There are non-toxic products that may be a better solution for your family as well. As always, it’s important that you carefully follow the directions on the label and clean high-touch surfaces often and thoroughly, like door handles, remote controls, countertops, and other frequently used areas.
Professional help from Xtreme Cleaners
Viruses like COVID-19 can spread rapidly and knowing that some variants last longer than others means it is even more important to clean and disinfect thoroughly. If your home becomes contaminated by a variant of COVID-19 because someone living there has had the virus or someone who recently visited tested positive, you should clean and disinfect right away.
Since improperly cleaning areas or incorrectly handling cleaning supplies can result in poisoning yourself, it may be important to hire a professional biohazard cleanup company to help you deeply clean the areas that may be infected. If you or someone you know needs help cleaning due to a COVID-19 related death or contaminated space in Louisiana, call Xtreme Cleaners at (800) 524-9591. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are always here to help right when you need us.
