Tribune News Network
Doha
In the wake of the global outbreak of COVID-19, experts at Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), part of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), have explained how the virus is spread, what can be done to reduce the risk of contracting the illness and the importance of proper sanitation during a pandemic.
Handwashing is the best way to kill coronavirus (Dr Oluwaseun Ogunbiyi)
Why is it so important to wash one’s hands with soap and water?
Ordinary soap diluted in water is sufficient to rupture and kill many different types of bacteria and viruses, including COVID-19. It is generally accepted to be more effective than using hand sanitiser. However, high alcohol content sanitiser should be considered where soap and water are not available.
Why is access to proper sanitation so crucial?
Handwashing with soap, when done correctly, is critical in the fight against the coronavirus. However, according to the UNICEF, there are millions of people worldwide who do not have ready access to it. In total, only three out of five people worldwide have basic handwashing facilities, which increases the risk of contracting the virus.
Water not a possible medium of transmission (Dr Deema al Masri)
Can COVID-19 contaminate drinking water or tap water?
To date, COVID-19 has not been detected in drinking water supplies globally. Municipal drinking water systems utilise filtration and chlorination steps that are generally thought to be effective in activating COVID-19.
COVID-19 is also unlikely to be found in bottled water itself. However, given the suspected lifespan of COVID-19 on plastic, when buying bottled water from a supermarket or water delivery, care should be taken with handling of the packaging.
Can COVID-19 survive in sewage water?
The COVID-19 virus is an enveloped virus with a fragile outer membrane. Generally, enveloped viruses are less stable in the environment and are more susceptible to oxidants, such as chlorine. While there is no evidence to date about survival of the COVID-19 virus in water or sewage, the virus is likely to become inactivated faster than non-enveloped human enteric viruses with known waterborne transmission.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is no evidence that COVID-19 is transmitted in wastewater treatment systems or in treated wastewater. Wastewater treatment plants treat viruses and other bacteria. WHO recommends the use of standard, well-maintained plumbing, such as sealed bathroom drains and backflow valves on sprayers and faucets to prevent aerosolised fecal matter from entering the plumbing or ventilation system, together with standard wastewater treatment.
Avoid touching contaminated
surfaces (Dr Jenny Lawler)
How does COVID-19 spread?
The virus is contracted when someone comes in direct contact with respiratory droplets of an infected person, usually through coughing and sneezing. The virus can also be passed on by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your face, even when outside.
The coronavirus may survive on surfaces anywhere from several hours up to two to three days, with the most recent study indicating that the virus can be found after up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel.
What are some of the measures that can be taken to limit the spread of COVID-19?
There are a number of prevention measures that can be adopted to minimise the risk of infection. These include:
? Washing hands thoroughly with soap and water.
? Ensuring that surfaces are properly cleaned and disinfected often.
? Ensuring that you cover your mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue when coughing or sneezing.
? Disposing of any used tissues immediately and effectively.
? Staying at home and practising social distancing.
? Self-isolating if unwell.
? Monitoring that ablution areas make soap and hand sanitisers readily available to ensure visitors comply with hygiene practices.
Doha
In the wake of the global outbreak of COVID-19, experts at Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), part of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), have explained how the virus is spread, what can be done to reduce the risk of contracting the illness and the importance of proper sanitation during a pandemic.
Handwashing is the best way to kill coronavirus (Dr Oluwaseun Ogunbiyi)
Why is it so important to wash one’s hands with soap and water?
Ordinary soap diluted in water is sufficient to rupture and kill many different types of bacteria and viruses, including COVID-19. It is generally accepted to be more effective than using hand sanitiser. However, high alcohol content sanitiser should be considered where soap and water are not available.
Why is access to proper sanitation so crucial?
Handwashing with soap, when done correctly, is critical in the fight against the coronavirus. However, according to the UNICEF, there are millions of people worldwide who do not have ready access to it. In total, only three out of five people worldwide have basic handwashing facilities, which increases the risk of contracting the virus.
Water not a possible medium of transmission (Dr Deema al Masri)
Can COVID-19 contaminate drinking water or tap water?
To date, COVID-19 has not been detected in drinking water supplies globally. Municipal drinking water systems utilise filtration and chlorination steps that are generally thought to be effective in activating COVID-19.
COVID-19 is also unlikely to be found in bottled water itself. However, given the suspected lifespan of COVID-19 on plastic, when buying bottled water from a supermarket or water delivery, care should be taken with handling of the packaging.
Can COVID-19 survive in sewage water?
The COVID-19 virus is an enveloped virus with a fragile outer membrane. Generally, enveloped viruses are less stable in the environment and are more susceptible to oxidants, such as chlorine. While there is no evidence to date about survival of the COVID-19 virus in water or sewage, the virus is likely to become inactivated faster than non-enveloped human enteric viruses with known waterborne transmission.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is no evidence that COVID-19 is transmitted in wastewater treatment systems or in treated wastewater. Wastewater treatment plants treat viruses and other bacteria. WHO recommends the use of standard, well-maintained plumbing, such as sealed bathroom drains and backflow valves on sprayers and faucets to prevent aerosolised fecal matter from entering the plumbing or ventilation system, together with standard wastewater treatment.
Avoid touching contaminated
surfaces (Dr Jenny Lawler)
How does COVID-19 spread?
The virus is contracted when someone comes in direct contact with respiratory droplets of an infected person, usually through coughing and sneezing. The virus can also be passed on by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your face, even when outside.
The coronavirus may survive on surfaces anywhere from several hours up to two to three days, with the most recent study indicating that the virus can be found after up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel.
What are some of the measures that can be taken to limit the spread of COVID-19?
There are a number of prevention measures that can be adopted to minimise the risk of infection. These include:
? Washing hands thoroughly with soap and water.
? Ensuring that surfaces are properly cleaned and disinfected often.
? Ensuring that you cover your mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue when coughing or sneezing.
? Disposing of any used tissues immediately and effectively.
? Staying at home and practising social distancing.
? Self-isolating if unwell.
? Monitoring that ablution areas make soap and hand sanitisers readily available to ensure visitors comply with hygiene practices.