Is Frequent Sanitization the New Normal?

Author: Dr. Jennifer Hunnicutt

Here in the US, we’ve been living in the Coronavirus pandemic for almost a year now. And outbreaks are still happening. No office, restaurant, or music venue is exempt from risk of experiencing an outbreak. So it is crucial that businesses follow the current best practices for preventing the spread of COVID-19.

But what are the current best practices for tackling this pandemic? The guidelines are constantly changing as we evolve to the “new normal.” This has forced business owners to stay abreast of the recommendations in order to keep their customers comfortable, safe, and healthy. One recommendation has remained at the center of the discussion over the past year: 

Sanitization. 

Yes, frequent sanitization is the new normal.

Sanitization is here to stay, as evidenced in the updated US Government Plan. 

Let’s first address the differences between sanitizing, cleaning, and disinfecting. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sanitizing is an umbrella term for reducing the number of germs to a safe level on surfaces and objects. Cleaning removes dirt and grime using soap and water, while disinfecting kills germs using approved solutions. 

While all of these actions help prevent the spread of Coronavirus, disinfecting is the most effective. Disinfecting products undergo the most rigorous testing to achieve claims of disinfection. Only disinfecting products are included on the EPA’s N list of approved products for treating COVID-19.

The most efficient sanitization occurs when a detailed plan has been developed and implemented incorporating both cleaning and disinfecting best practices. Developing these plans is crucial to not only protect your patrons, but also protect your business from liability and closure. If your business or event runs multiple locations, you must develop plans individualized to each location. Considerations for the sanitization plan include the following: 

• Workplace environment (indoors vs outdoors, windows, etc.)
• Evaluation of highly-trafficked and highly-touched areas
• Type of surfaces needing cleaning and disinfecting (porous vs nonporous
• Cleaning solutions and methods
• Disinfecting solutions available and approved for treating Coronavirus on specific surfaces 
• Preventative practices versus treating active COVID cases
• Other best practices including social distancing, mask wearing, hand washing, etc.
• Qualified professionals to implement the sanitization plan

The CDC offers more extensive guidelines for developing, implementing, and maintaining your sanitization plan. However, a quick glance at these extensive CDC guidelines can be quite overwhelming. To ease this burden, business owners should consider partnering with sanitization companies to work together in plan development and implementation.

Committed to helping owners safely open and stay in business, 3P America can help you and your business develop and implement your sanitization plans.

3P America offers a fully comprehensive, proactive, and all-natural solution to the Coronavirus pandemic. In addition to effectively eradicating COVID-19 and harmful pathogens from your business using EPA-approved disinfectants, 3P America provides the following: treatment plans, usage reports, disinfecting agent test results, active ingredients and efficacy specifications, HD video documentation of each service, and resource documentation customized to your business!
Let 3P America help you and your business adopt the new normal. Be proactive. Get a free quote today.

About the Author: 

Dr. Jennifer Hunnicutt is a licensed athletic trainer with a PhD in Health and Rehabilitation Science. She has held prominent research positions at Emory University and the Medical University of South Carolina. Now the owner of Hunnicutt Writing and Consulting, LLC, Dr. Hunnicutt collaborates with global institutions, spearheading innovation and research among professionals and businesses.