What outdoor disinfecting applications are effective?

We have seen the photos from around the world of outdoor fogging with disinfectants. But is worthwhile? With staffing resources at a premium, think twice about how to go about outdoor disinfecting.

Be Deliberate with Outdoor Disinfection

Prioritize where you are disinfecting outdoors. Focus on high touch and high trafficked public areas.

In a study reviewed in the New England Journal of Medicine, the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19 only lasts in the air up to 3 hours. Thus ultra-low volume (ULV) ‘fogging’ would be very inefficient at reaching and controlling live virus. By comparison, the virus survives on hard surfaces such as stainless steel and plastic 2 to 3 days.

As noted in a recent Science Magazine article “Does disinfecting surfaces really prevent the spread of coronavirus?” people don’t lick or touch sidewalks, steps and roads. So wide area treatments of open public spaces should take a second seat to high-touch surfaces such as railings, doors, benches, playground equipment, tables and chairs.

Be Direct

A gas-powered backpack applicator is an ideal means of treating these surfaces. Applicators such as the Clarke Guardsman ULV Backpack Sprayer provides true ULV droplets that efficiently and effectively apply disinfectants to targeted hard surfaces. Click here for a list of EPA listed disinfectants.

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