What should I do with my shoes when I get home because of coronavirus?

The novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is transmitted by secretions that people expel from their noses and mouths. These are then inhaled or remain on surfaces

Furthermore, people produce a “cloud” of liquid particles from tiny microscopic droplets just by breathing. This “cloud” from an infected person has the potential to spread to other people.

This cloud and the expelled secretions of an infected person can reach surfaces, which can come into contact with a people’s shoes and clothing.

A study in the The New England Journal of Medicine analyzes how the novel coronavirus survives on different surfaces.

SARS-CoV-2 is viable in aerosols for up to three hours, on stainless steel and plastic for up to three days, on copper for four hours and up to 24 hours on cardboard.

However, studies haven’t looked at how long the virus remains active on clothes and shoes.
 

WHEN YOU GET HOME

Take off your shoes immediately upon entering the house and spray them with a disinfectant that should be at the entrance.

We recommend leaving these shoes at the entrance in a container and using another pair of shoes for walking around the house.

CLOTHES

When you enter your home, we recommend taking off outer clothing and putting it into a bag or container to be washed as soon as possible. This is primarily recommended for healthcare professionals.

After taking off your clothes, we recommend taking a bath/shower as soon as you can. If this is not possible, we recommended washing all exposed body parts (hands, neck, arms, wrists).

Clothes should be washed with detergent at a temperature of 60°C to 90°C, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This includes sheets and towels.

The WHO indicates that if it’s not possible to use a washing machine, you can leave the clothes to soak in hot soapy water.

COINS, KEYS, BAGS...

When entering your home, we recommend leaving the items that you bring with you like backpacks, coins, keys, bags and wallets, among others, in a container or bag to spray them with disinfectant.

Then, proceed to wash your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 40 to 60 seconds, or use anti bacterial hand gel with an alcohol base of 70%.
 

HOW SHOULD I CLEAN THE HOUSE?

The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends cleaning “high-touch surfaces daily”.

These may be “tables, doorknobs, light switches, counters, railings, desks, telephones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks, and dishwashers.”

According to the CDC, most common home disinfectants will work.  They recommend using the appropriate disinfectant for the type of surface.

 

DISINFECTANTS

Options for disinfectants:

- Dilute bleach with cholorine that you have at home.
We recommend using a chlorine / water ratio of 1:3

- Alcohol solutions.
Make sure the solution is at least 70% alcohol.

- Other common household disinfectants.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products (such as the concentration, method of application and contact time, etc.).

You can check more commercial disinfectant products here.
 

“Every one of us is responsible for our health, so I urge you to follow basic preventive measures to prevent the rapid spread of COVID-19 “, says Dr. Michel Fernando Martínez, leader of the TecSalud Epidemiological Surveillance Unit.

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