Bio SoCal, along with many others, is working hard on preventing the further spread of COVID-19. Using an interactive global map created by John Hopkins University that is updated regularly, we’ve been able to watch as it grows and spreads in our area of the world while also learning how many people have died in an area and how many have already recovered from confirmed cases.
As the #1 trusted infectious disease cleanup specialists throughout Los Angeles and the Southern California area, we are continuing to offer infectious disease cleanup wherever and whenever we are needed. Available around the clock, our teams of experienced professionals are always on-call and ready to help you by applying disinfectant to an affected property.
We know there are a lot of questions as we deal with this COVID-19 outbreak and Bio SoCal is here to make sure you get the answers you need.
How do I prevent being infected with the coronavirus?
Bio SoCal is always here whenever infectious disease cleanup is needed. The best cure, however, is prevention so to keep the virus as limited as possible, we want to encourage everyone to do their best in taking the needed steps to keep you and your family safe. As is the case whenever infectious diseases are particularly active, the best prevention for most people is basic hygiene and cleanliness. This includes:
- Frequently washing your hands for at least 20 seconds and using hand sanitizer when hand washing is not available
- Not touching you mouth, nose, or eyes with your hands—even at home
- Wiping down all surfaces on a daily basis such as arm rests, doorknobs, counter tops, water faucets, tables, cupboards, and surfaces in your vehicle
- Covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze and washing your hands directly afterward
- Staying home except for trips to the grocery store and for needed supplies
- Staying home completely if you are feeling sick
- Wiping down your groceries and any packages
- Refraining from shaking hands and touching other people
If you are someone whose immune system is compromised or you have an ongoing health condition such as heart issues, respiratory problems, or diabetes, stay home and ask others to bring groceries or have them delivered by the store. It is important for everyone to keep their exposure to others to a minimal amount but it’s especially true for someone who already has heath challenges and for all those who live with them. Even if you don’t become sick, those around you are far more vulnerable to catching the disease.
How contagious is the coronavirus?
In comparison to the common flu, the coronavirus seems to be more contagious though scientists don’t fully understand yet how it is being spread. We do know it travels through moisture droplets such as when someone coughs or sneezes and the resulting fluid can reach as far as six feet. There is also anecdotal evidence the virus can be transmitted through the air to those nearby. Transmitting the virus from one person to another typically requires close personal contact or touching an infected surface.
The coronavirus also differs from the flu by having a higher mortality rate. Though numerous factors go into how severe the disease will be for a person such as age and any underlying health conditions, more people die of the coronavirus than they do from the flu by a wide margin.
The coronavirus needs to be taken seriously and steps need to be taken to limit the spread as much as possible.
Do you clean an area infected with the coronavirus?
Yes, Bio SoCal is always here to apply disinfectant to any areas infected with the coronavirus. While Bio SoCal always does a thorough job in any work we do and we are confident in the products we use, there is a lot that is still unknown about this virus. Because the coronavirus is so new, there is no company that can make a 100% claim their cleaning chemical is effective against the new strand of coronavirus as there just hasn’t been time for thorough testing. It takes at least six months of lab testing before the EPA will grant the certification as a coronavirus disinfectant and we are only four months into the outbreak. There are even varying opinions on how long the virus can live on a surface outside of a living host. The EPA has certified cleaning agents against the previously existing strands of coronavirus but have not yet been able to make a claim about this new strand. You can check their website to see a current list of disinfectants to use.
While the Environmental Protection Agency conducts their testing against this new strand, we will continue to use the best products in the industry with full confidence while we keep careful track of all the latest developments. Your protection and safety are always our number one priority and it will continue to be the value we put first.
If you are working on keeping surfaces disinfected to prevent coronavirus infections, make sure you clean a surface of all dirt first then use the disinfectant. A disinfectant isn’t fully effective unless the surface is cleaned first. Depending on the surface material, the coronavirus can live outside of a human host for a couple of hours to several days. To see specific time spans for surfaces such as glass, cardboard, stainless steel, copper, and plastic, check the article by USA Today featuring findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
What do I do if I think I have the coronavirus?
If you think you have the coronavirus, have recently traveled to one of the main centers of infection, or been in contact with someone who is infected with the virus, the best thing to do if your symptoms aren’t severe is to stay home and quarantine yourself. Call your primary care physician or an urgent health clinic so they can monitor your condition and test you for the virus if possible. If your symptoms are more severe, call your local hospital or clinic before going in as they may have specific instructions for you or a different entrance to use so no one else becomes infected.
Symptoms of COVID-19 include:
- fever
- cough
- difficulty breathing
- Loss of taste and smell
Want more information?
For more information on the coronavirus, please check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
