How do you know which disinfectants can kill the coronavirus? Which disinfectants should you use in commercial non-healthcare buildings? This article is an extract from HPC Solutions’ Guide to Cleaning for COVID-19
[Updated 11/06/20]
About the new coronavirus (COVID-19)
Before you can tackle an enemy you have to understand it. So what do we know about COVID-19?
In late in late 2019 a new (novel) form of coronavirus was recorded in China and began to spread rapidly. The disease resulting from this coronavirus was named COVID-19 by the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the virus that causes COVID-19 is called SARS-CoV-2. The WHO declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic on 12th March.
Our understanding of this coronavirus, including how to kill it and how to prevent the spread of infection, is still evolving so advice is mostly based on previous SARS viruses.
What we do know is that COVID-19 is extremely infectious, we have no immunity, and there are no vaccines.
On the 5th April, there were nearly 5,687 cases in Australia. At the time of writing this update on June 11, this has increased to 7,285 cases with 102 casualties – (which is a fraction of the 7.5 million cases and 419,811 deaths worldwide).
While symptoms are often like a mild flu, it can cause deadly pneumonia and serious lung damage in elderly people and those with underlying respiratory and heart conditions.
Why is surface cleaning and disinfection so important?
Coronavirus is spread via droplets of breath from infected people that can be inhaled if you are within 1-2 metres of that person and by touching surfaces that droplets and respiratory secretions land on.
If the conditions are right, it can remain infectious on inanimate surfaces for many days. In fact, other human coronaviruses have remained infectious for up to 9 days.
This virus can be picked up from a contaminated surface onto our hands and cleaning tools, which can then spread to:
- other surfaces that we clean,
- other people that we touch, and
- our own bodies by touching our eyes, nose or eating if we don’t wash our hands.
That’s why thoroughly cleaning frequently touched surfaces is a vitally important part of preventing the spread of COVID-19 and keeping us all healthy.
Disinfectants that can kill coronavirus
At the start of the pandemic, both the Australian Department of Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO) advised the use of sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach) for deactivating coronavirus on frequently touched surfaces with the following concentration and contact time:
But bleach is not your only option. Un-dissociated hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is the active antimicrobial compound in hypochlorite-based products, and this can be obtained via electrolised water technology as well.
In fact, it appears that there are quite a few different types of disinfectants that can effectively deactivate COVID-19, such as isopropanol, peracetic acid, quaternary ammonium compounds, or combinations of these.
In a fact sheet published in late March 2020 about the “appropriate use of disinfectants” for killing coronavirus, the TGA states: “Disinfectants containing ≥ 70% alcohol, quaternary ammonium compounds (such as benzalkonium chloride) or diluted household bleach (including products containing sodium hypochlorite) are suitable for use”.
On the 15th May 2020, the WHO released interim guidelines for the “Cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces in the context of COVID-19“. As well as the use of Hypochlorite listed above, they now recommend at Ethanol 70-90% and Hydrogen peroxide >0.5% with a minimum 1 minute dwell time.
The Department of Health website has also added the statement: “The disinfectant used should be one for which the manufacturer claims antiviral activity, meaning it can kill the virus”.
Because coronaviruses are encased in a lipid (fatty) envelope rather than protein, they are quite easy to clean away with soap and water (or a neutral detergent), then kill by spraying or wiping the surface with a suitable disinfectant – as long as it is antiviral (able to kill viruses) rather than antibacterial (able to kill bacteria).
This last point is critical. So how can you tell which disinfectant products are antiviral and effective against COVID-19?
Registered disinfectants for use against coronavirus
The US EPA has issued a long list of disinfectants that can kills SARS type coronaviruses available for sale in America and the search function is easy to use.
The equivalent list in Australia is the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) managed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and the process is not so simple.
Disinfectants sold in Australia must be tested against the TGO 104 Standard for Disinfectants and Sanitary Products, then registered by the TGA on the ARTG before they may be labelled as either a:
- Hospital grade disinfectant with or without Specific Claims.
- Household/commercial disinfectant with Specific Claims.
Only disinfectants that are listed on the ARTG and make a Specific Claim of being antiviral (virucidal), are legally able to state this on the label or website.
Previously, the only way to check this out, was to either search the ARTG to check if a disinfectant that claims to be antiviral is TGA registered, or ask the supplier to provide you with their ‘approved claim’ and ARTG ID number.
Fortunately the TGA has moved quickly to approve disinfectants that have been successfully tested against a SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19 virus) surrogate, and you can now find a list of “Disinfectants for use against COVID-19 in the ARTG for legal supply in Australia” on the TGA website.
Given the devastating spread of coronavirus, it’s not surprising we’re seeing some ‘creative marketing’, so be aware of snake oil sellers and also make sure you are not breaking the law by making false claims.
In fact, the TGA has issued a warning that it is illegal to claim a therapeutic product or service can treat or prevent the novel coronavirus without supporting evidence or being registered on the ARTG – and the fines are hefty!
How to make disinfects work properly
TGA regulations only relate to the claims you make about your product or service. And while the ARGT gives you reassurance when making purchasing decisions, there is no legal requirement to use an ARTG registered disinfectant when cleaning a workplace, school or public building.
Whichever disinfectant you choose to use, it is vitally important that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions when you prepare and use it, or it could be ineffective.
The concentration of the disinfecting agent in the product, how fresh the solution is, and the length of time it has contact with the surface, are all critical to its ability to kill viruses. Most importantly, the surface must first be cleaned of all organic matter before the disinfectant can have sufficient contact with the surface to kill the viruses on it.
Below is a quick guide to preparing and using disinfectants:
The Guide to Cleaning for COVID-19
As a high performance cleaning specialist, my aim is to provide independent and evidence-based cleaning advice with solutions that can be easily acted on.
I have always taken my role of helping people to understand and implement government guidelines and research very seriously, but now it is even more important.
Given the complexities and rapidly changing landscape of this coronavirus pandemic, I have produced a detailed 60 page guide with 5 supporting procedural templates that will take cleaning companies through a step-by-step process for delivering Prevention and Decontamination cleaning – safely and effectively – and prevent the spread of COVID-19.
This valuable resource is called the Guide to Cleaning for COVID-19 and you can purchase it here.
When you buy the Guide, you will automatically be given access to FREE updates and resources which I am constantly producing as the information changes.
I hope you find it valuable and please stay safe out there!
References
- Australian Department of Health: Environmental cleaning and disinfection principles for COVID-19.
- Cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces in the context of COVID-19, Interim Guidance, World Health Organisation (WHO) 15 May 2020.
- List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2.
- Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) Search.
- Therapeutic Goods (Standard for Disinfectants and Sanitary Products) (TGO 104) Order 2019.
- Disinfectants for use against COVID-19 in the ARTG for legal supply in Australia TGA
- Appropriate use of disinfectants: Information for consumers, health professionals and healthcare facilities, by the TGA.
- TGA warning about products claiming to treat or prevent the novel coronavirus.
Great article Bridget. Reliable, specific and detailed information has been hard to find. Thanks. We’ll share this into our community too.
Thanks Martin,
It has been slightly updated since this morning – it’s an ever changing landscape right now!