Hospitals and aged care homes need to tighten cleaning protocols to tackle COVID-19 – nine days plus carpets

An important consideration for operators. Australian hospitals and aged care homes need to urgently focus on increased surface cleaning because the coronavirus can live on some surfaces for up to nine days. Anand Deva, head of the Surgical Infection Research Group Faculty at Macquarie University, has told The Australian that simple measures such as stripping curtains and deep-cleaning carpets were not always thought of when residents are sick, but they are necessary to eliminate the virus.

“It’s not just about social distancing, every single weapon needs to be used,” Professor Deva said. “Reading between the lines of the situation at Newmarch House is standards of cleaning, but I can’t help think they are being looked at a little too late.” “Ironically, in intensive care units where you have some of the sickest people in hospital, there are reservoirs of bacteria and virus that are multi-resistant in pockets around the patients. This is why there needs to be a tightening of cleaning protocols in hospitals.” “This is an issue of adequate cleaning, decontamination and disinfection, which is becoming increasingly critical in healthcare and aged care facilities.”