Shivalik
When used correctly, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended alcohol-based hand disinfectants to be effective against the novel coronavirus, as confirmed by the international team of researchers.
For the findings published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, the research team headed by Professor Stephanie Pfander from Ruhr-Universitat Bochum (RUB) in Germany, exposed Sars-Cov-2 viruses for 30 seconds to the WHO-recommended disinfectant formulations.
"This time frame was chosen based on recommendations for hand disinfectants," said Pfander.
Subsequently, the team tested the viruses in cell culture assays and analysed what percentage of viruses remained infectious.
"We showed that both WHO-recommended formulations sufficiently inactivate the virus after 30 seconds," Pfander said.
Plus, this doesn't merely apply to the WHO solutions; rather, their main components, the alcohol ethanol, and isopropanol, also showed adequate inactivation of the virus.
The disinfectant one recommended by the WHO consists of 80 volume per cent ethanol, 1.45 volume per cent glycerine and 0.125 volume per cent peroxide .
Disinfectant two consists of 75 volume per cent isopropanol, 1.45 volume per cent glycerine and 0.125 volume per cent peroxide.
The WHO also recommends the utilization of disinfection chemicals like hypochlorite, chlorine, bleach solution (in recommended dilution) for disinfecting surfaces and objects.
According to the global health agency, the most effective way to protect yourself against coronavirus is by frequently cleaning off your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or washing them with soap and water.
The WHO's report showed the virus infects people of all ages, among which older people and people with underlying medical conditions are at a better risk of getting infected.
People should eat only well-cooked food, avoid spitting publicly, and avoid close contact, the WHO said, adding that it's important for people to hunt medical aid at the earliest if they become sick.
