See full answer Environmental cleaning in healthcare facilities or homes housing patients with suspected or confirmed 2019-nCoV infection should use disinfectants that are active against enveloped viruses, such as 2019-nCoV and other coronaviruses. There are many disinfectants, including commonly used hospital disinfectants, that are active against enveloped viruses. Currently WHO recommendations include the use of: * 70% Ethyl alcohol to disinfect reusable dedicated equipment (e.g., thermometers) between uses * Sodium hypochlorite at 0.5% (equivalent 5000ppm) for disinfection of frequently touched surfaces in homes or healthcare facilities Click here for the guidance on clinical management of severe acute respiratory infection when novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection is suspected. Click here for the guidance on infection prevention and control during health care when novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection is suspected. More information about environmental cleaning can be found here.
Currently the treatment for COVID-19 is supportive care, which may include supplemental oxygen, fluids, and medications standardly used to treat pneumonia. Experts are currently investigating several antivirals for use in treating COVID-19.
No. Waste produced during the health care or home care of patients with suspected or confirmed 2019-nCoV infection should be disposed of as infectious waste. For more information on disposing of infectious waste, please click here. Or visit CDC website here.
Current guidance indicates that there is: No viable virus after four hours on copper surfaces. No viable virus after 24 hours on cardboard surfaces. No viable virus after four days on plastic and stainless steel. The virus is greatly reduced after 72 hours.
The respiratory symptoms of COVID-19 typically appear an average of 5-6 days after exposure, but may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
For disinfection, diluted household bleach solutions, alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, and most common EPA-registered household disinfectants should be effective.
The disease has been named "coronavirus disease 2019" (abbreviated "COVID-19"). This situation poses a serious public health risk. The federal government is working closely with state, local, tribal, and territorial partners as well as public health partners, to respond to this situation. COVID-19 can cause mild to severe illness; most severe illness occurs in adults 65 years and older and people of any age with serious underlying medical problems.
Some viruses, like the common cold and flu, spread more when the weather is colder. But it is still possible to become sick with these viruses during warmer months. At this time, we do not know whether the spread of COVID-19 will decrease when the weather warms up.