On January 31, 2020, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a public health emergency (PHE) for the entire United States to aid the nation’s healthcare community in responding to novel coronavirus (COVID-19). On March 11, 2020, WHO publicly characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working closely with state health departments on disease surveillance, contact tracing, and providing interim guidance for clinicians on identifying and treating coronavirus infections. What does this mean for the millions of Americans who count on buses, subways and commuter trains to get to work, school, and other daily activities?
The very thought of being in close or confined quarters with other passengers is cause for hesitation and potential panic. Transit agencies around the country have responded to the public health emergency by announcing expanded cleaning schedules, dispensing hand sanitizer, and equipping drivers with antiseptic wipes. These expanded cleaning schedules usually just involve wiping down the areas people mostly touch with a disinfectant, because wiping all the surfaces would take a lot of time and labor. There is an effective alternative option to the commonly use spray and wipe method, and that is fogging with chlorine dioxide.
Whether the fogging is completed by the ClorDiSys Decontamination Service team or the supplies are purchased for an agency or company’s staff to complete themselves, liquid chlorine dioxide is applied to surfaces using handheld foggers at concentrations capable of eliminating viruses, bacteria, fungi and spores. This method offers a level of disinfection comparable to utilizing Vapor-Phase Hydrogen Peroxide (VPHP). Handheld foggers are used to reach more surfaces than a stationary fogger, while changing the angle of application in order to minimize shadow areas not being contacted. This option can be used for buses, rail cars, and any other high-traffic public space, not limited to mass transit. Even companies in food and pharmaceutical production are creating COVID-19 response plans that include fogging offices, warehouses, and more.
Contact ClorDiSys by phone at (908) 236-4100 or complete a decontamination service request to learn more.
