March 20, 2020
To all my clients…
As this COVID 19 situation evolves hour by hour, I continually am being educated on new studies, protocols and procedures. I am a consultant to the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Winthrop University Hospital Occupational and Environmental Division with access to many of the experts who are actively working on the proper protocols necessary to keep us all safe.
I had a lengthy discussion with a highly respected Chief MD for Environmental Science in the tri-state area just now in regard to the sanitizing and disinfection of buildings, particularly common areas. His thoughts are the service is only effective for the snapshot in time we are there. Yes, the locations sanitized will be clean of the virus but within a half-hour of us leaving, any delivery person, mail carrier or tenant/owner who is “asymptomatic” (carrier without symptoms) that just touched a banister, door handle or garbage bin just infected the location.
His suggestion is as NY State just mandated… All non-essential people stay inside. Those that have to venture out to exercise, pick up the mail or retrieve a package, wash your hands as soon as returning to your apartments. Washing for 20 seconds is more effective than hand sanitizer. The likely path for transmission is the eyes, nose and mouth so be cognizant of not touching your face unless you just washed your hands.
If wearing gloves will make you more aware to not touch your face, by all means wear gloves but remember, the gloves will become contaminated upon touching something that has the virus on it.
If you want to sanitize the buildings, wait until restrictions have lifted and the curve of infections has decreased.
In the spirit of being honest and morally responsible, it appears this service would again only be effective for a short period of time and better served after we have come through this self-quarantined period.
COVID-19 Facts
It’s critical to understand the facts about COVID-19 so you can help prevent its spread in your facility. Here are some helpful facts to be aware of:
- This coronavirus can be transmitted from person to person. [SOURCE]
- Symptoms may appear as few as two days or as many as 14 days after exposure. [SOURCE]
- This coronavirus can affect people of any age; older people and those with preexisting medical conditions, like asthma or heart disease, may be more vulnerable to developing severe symptoms. [SOURCE]
- Healthcare workers and others who have close contact with COVID-19 patients will have a higher risk of infection. [SOURCE]
- Antibiotics cannot prevent or treat COVID-19. [SOURCE]
- There are currently no medications available to prevent or treat this coronavirus. [SOURCE]
- Disinfectants kill a wider range of microorganisms than sanitizers. [SOURCE]
- The illness causes a range of symptoms, including fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties, pneumonia, kidney failure and death. [SOURCE]
- It appears people showing no symptoms may be able to spread the virus. [SOURCE]
New York Indoor Air Quality Solutions
80 Old Brook Road
Huntington Station, NY 11746
631-275-5999