Cleansing, Disinfection, and Hand Hygiene in Faculties

The importance of cleaning, disinfection and hand hygiene

Cleaning, disinfecting, and promoting hand hygiene are important everyday actions schools can take to slow the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases and protect students and staff. CDC provides the following cleaning, disinfection, and hand hygiene considerations to help school administrators make decisions, protect their students and staff, and communicate with families and communities.

Why is cleaning and disinfection important?

cleaning Using soap (or detergent) and water will reduce the number of germs, dirt and impurities on the surfaces.

Clean visibly soiled surfaces with soap and water before disinfecting.

Disinfect kills germs on surfaces.

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can be reduced and killed on surfaces, objects and hands if the right products are used correctly. The virus is believed to mainly spread from person to person, but it can also spread by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it, and then touching your own mouth, nose, or possibly yours Touch eyes. Cleaning and disinfecting can reduce the risk of the spread of infection by reducing and killing germs on surfaces that are often touched by people. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has compiled a list of disinfectants that can be used against the virus that causes COVID-19external symbol

Why is it important to practice good hand hygiene?

Keeping your hands clean is one of the best ways to protect yourself and others from illness. If SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, gets on hands and is not washed off, it can be passed on from person to person. Germs from unwashed hands can enter the body through the mouth, nose and eyes and make people sick. Good hand hygiene – washing your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not readily available – reduces the spread of germs that can cause disease, especially when in key hours Carried out during the day. To avoid poison emergencies, hand sanitizer should be kept out of sight of children under six and used under adult supervision.

Cleaning and Disinfection – What's the Difference?

Cleaning and disinfection are part of a comprehensive approach to preventing infectious diseases, including COVID-19, in schools. To slow the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, preventive measures include staying at home when sick, social distancing, the use of cloth masks, frequent hand washing, and regular cleaning and disinfection. Use the tips below to help slow the spread of disease through cleaning and sanitizing.

cleaning Physically removes germs, dirt and contaminants from surfaces or objects with soap (or detergent) and water. This process doesn't necessarily kill germs, but removing these germs will reduce their numbers and the risk of infection spreading.
Disinfect kills germs on surfaces or objects. Chemicals are used in disinfection to kill germs on surfaces or objects. This process doesn't necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but killing germs on a surface after cleaning can further reduce the risk of the infection spreading. Before disinfecting, clean surfaces and objects with soap and water.

Important considerations

Integration of cleaning and disinfection in the daily schedule – who cleans, how often and where?

Cleaning and disinfecting reduce the risk of infection spreading by removing and killing germs on surfaces that are often touched by people. Consider cleaning and disinfecting your school more often to reduce the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Personnel and scheduling

Dirty surfaces and objects

Immediately clean surfaces and objects that are visibly soiled. Use soap (or detergent) and water to clean surfaces or items that look dirty. Visibly dirty surfaces should be cleaned before disinfection.
When surfaces or objects are contaminated with body fluids or bloodUse gloves and other usual precautions to avoid contact with the liquid. Remove the spill and clean and disinfect the surface.

Frequently touched surfaces

Coronaviruses on surfaces and objects naturally die within hours to days. At warmer temperatures and solar radiation, the survival of the virus on surfaces and objects is shortened.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces (e.g. play equipment, door handles, washbasin handles, drinking fountains) within the school and on school buses at least daily or as much as possible between uses. This may include adding additional areas or surfaces to standard disinfection procedures.
- If the surfaces are dirty, they should be cleaned with a detergent or soap and water before disinfection.

Shared objects

Limit the use of shared objects (e.g. fitness or sports equipment, painting utensils, toys, games, computers), if possible, or clean and disinfect between use.
Avoid sharing items that are difficult to clean or disinfect such as electronic devices, pens and pencils, staplers in the classroom, whiteboard markers and erasers, books, games, painting supplies (e.g. markers, crayons, scissors) and other learning aids. Soft and porous materials like carpets and seating can be removed to reduce the problems of cleaning and disinfecting.
Keep each student's things separate from other students' belongings. and in individually labeled containers, cubes, lockers or areas.
Ensure adequate supply to minimize sharing of high-touch materials, as far as possible (e.g. assigning each student their own works of art, equipment) or restricting the use of supplies and equipment to one group of students at a time and cleaning and disinfecting them between uses.

Safe and effective cleaning and disinfection

Choosing the right products

Use products that meet EPA disinfection criteriaexternal symbol. These products can kill the virus that causes COVID-19 and contain ready-to-use sprays, concentrates, and wipes.
Make sure you have sufficient supplies to support more frequent cleaning and disinfection.
- Consider whether teachers and staff need additional cleaning and disinfecting products (e.g. cleaning and disinfecting products, paper towels, gloves) beyond what is normally available in classrooms.
- Consider providing teachers and staff with disposable EPA registered wipes so that commonly used surfaces (e.g., desks / tables and chairs, keyboards, doorknobs, classroom sink handles, countertops) can be wiped clean before use.
Attention

Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other disinfectant. This can lead to fumes which can be very dangerous to inhale.

Consider using a bleach solution. If EPA approved disinfectantsexternal symbol
- 5 tablespoons (1/3 cup) of bleach per gallon of room temperature or water
- 4 teaspoons of bleach per liter of room temperature water
Do not store disinfectants or other supplies. This can lead to a lack of suitable products for others to use in critical situations, and supplies can deteriorate and become less effective if stored for extended periods of time.

Observe the safety precautions when using disinfectants

Always read and follow the instructions on the label for safe and effective use.

Wear skin protection and consider eye protection for possible splash hazards
Provide adequate ventilation
Do not use more than the recommended amount on the label
Use room temperature water to dilute (unless otherwise stated on the label).
Avoid mixing chemical products
Identify diluted cleaning solutions
Store and use chemicals out of the reach of children and pets

You should never eat, drink, breathe, inject these products into your body, or apply them directly to your skin as they can cause serious damage. Do not wipe or bathe pets with these products or any other product that is not approved for animal use.

For more information on using disinfectants safely and effectively, see the EPA's 6 Stepspdf icon

Individuals with asthma should be given special consideration and should not be present during cleaning and disinfection as this can cause asthma exacerbations. Learn more about reducing asthma triggers.

For more information, see the CDC Cleaning and Disinfecting Community Facilities website.

COVID-19 case in school

A school may need to implement short-term closure procedures, regardless of the prevalence in the community, if an infected person is in a school building. In addition, CDC recommends that the school building be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected by:

1) Lock off areas used by people with COVID-19 and wait as long as possible before cleaning and disinfecting to minimize the risk of exposure to respiratory droplets

Open outside doors and windows to increase air circulation in the area.
If possible, wait up to 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting.

2) Clean and disinfect all areas (e.g. offices, bathrooms and common areas) used by the person (s) with COVID-19, with an emphasis on surfaces that are frequently touched

The surfaces should be cleaned with soap (or a detergent) and water before disinfecting.
To disinfect, most EPA registered household disinfectants should be effective against the virus that causes COVID-19. Check the EPA list of disinfectant productsexternal symbol

In most cases, a single case of COVID-19 in one school would not warrant closing the entire school. The spread in the community and the person with COVID-19's contact with others, as well as the time at which such contact occurred, must be considered. These variables should also be taken into account when determining how long a school or part of the school will be closed. Administrators should work with local health authorities to determine if a temporary closure of the school building is necessary.

Additional key resources:

Promote hand hygiene in your school

The best way to prevent COVID-19 is to avoid exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19, which is believed to mainly spread from person to person. Another important preventive measure is to clean your hands regularly. At key times, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not readily available is one of the most important steps a person can take to avoid getting sick. This helps prevent a wide variety of infections because:

People often touch their eyes, nose and mouth without even realizing it. Germs can enter the body through the mouth, nose and eyes and make us sick.
Germs from unwashed hands can be transferred to other objects such as handrails, tabletops, or keyboards and then transferred to another person's hands.
So removing germs by washing your hands helps prevent diarrhea and respiratory infections, and can even help prevent skin and eye infections.

Teaching people how to hand wash helps them and their communities stay healthy. Hand washing can reduce respiratory illnesses such as colds in the general population by up to 21%. In addition, school-based programs to promote hand washing and hand hygiene can result in fewer gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases and fewer missed school days.

For more information, see the CDC website Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives.

Establishing a culture of hand hygiene

Teach and intensify hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and increased monitoring to ensure compliance among teachers, students and staff.
Build time into everyday life so that students and staff can wash their hands, especially at key times like after toilet breaks, before lunch or after playing outside. Take into account the extra time students or staff will spend washing their hands during social distancing.
Consider providing hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol for teachers, staff and students. Hand sanitizer can be placed near frequently touched surfaces (e.g., water fountains, doors, shared appliances) and in areas where soap and water are not readily available (e.g., cafeterias, classrooms, gyms). Supervise young children under 6 when using hand sanitizer to prevent ingestion of alcohol or contact with the eyes.
Promoting hand hygiene throughout the school by placing visual cues such as hand washing posters, stickers and other materials in clearly visible places.

Using hand sanitizer to clean your hands

CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water because hand washing reduces the amount of all kinds of germs and chemicals on the hands. However, if soap and water are not available, using a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can help you avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.

Some important notes on using hand sanitizer:

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers kill the virus that, when used correctly, causes COVID-19. However, hand sanitizer doesn't get rid of all types of germs, including some germs that cause diarrhea. Always wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet.
Hand sanitizer may not be as effective if the hands are visibly dirty or greasy. Hands are often dirty or greasy after activities like eating or playing outdoors.
Hand sanitizer may not remove harmful chemicals like pesticides and heavy metals from your hands.
Ingestion of alcohol-based hand sanitizer can cause alcohol poisoning. Actually, Calls to U.S. poison centers for alcohol-based hand sanitizer increased 36% from 2019 to 2020. Hand sanitizer should be stored out of the sight of children and used under adult supervision for children under six years of age.
- Call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 if you think a child has been poisoned but is awake and alert. The center can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Call 911 if you have a poison emergency, or if a child has collapsed or is not breathing.
If you are using a hand sanitizer, apply the product to the palm of your hand (read the label for the correct amount) and rub the product over all surfaces of your hands until your hands are dry.

Soap and water remove all types of germs from your hands, while the disinfectant kills certain germs on the skin. Although alcohol-based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs in many situations, they should be used in the right situations.

Place staff in bathrooms, cafeteria kitchens, and common areas such as teacher's lounges when they are open.

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Post in student bathrooms and changing rooms.
Post near classrooms is sinking.
Distribute it to parents, guardians, and caregivers in electronic or print and encourage them to post near their sinks at home.

English
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Haitian Creole

Use hand wash and hand sanitiser

Distribute to staff, parents and senior students.
Post near hand sanitizer dispensers.

Stop the germs! Wash your hands

Hand out to young students and parents.

Hand wash: keep your family healthy

Distribute it to children to take home with parents, guardians, and caregivers
Distribute it to parents, guardians, and caregivers in electronic or print and encourage them to post near their sinks at home.

English
Spanish
French
Haitian Creole

Play on school televisions or screens.
Distribute it to the staff to include in the hand washing lessons.
Distribute it to parents to use at home with children.

Stick to mirrors in school bathrooms or class windows.
Use stickers for classroom rewards.
Share with parents to print and use at home.

Use CDC's graphics and messages when creating hand washing notices for co-workers, parents, or students.
Promote hand washing on your school or district social media accounts.

Play during the school announcements.
Distribute it to the staff to include in the hand washing lessons.

Additional resources

For school administrators

For parents

For students

For educators

For other school staff