The Centers for Disease Control has determined COVID-19 Coronavirus is spread maily through person-to-person contact. The agency also has backtracked by saying the infection does not spread easily on contaminated surfaces.
WWL-TV consulted with Dr. Julio Figueroa of LSU Health New Orleans.
Figueroa says the CDC is now focusing on the greatest risk to public health as the state and the nation move toward a reopening.
“To really emphasize kind of what we’re trying to do here in New Orleans and that is to emphasize masking and physical distancing to reduce transmission,” Figueroa tells WWL-TV. “It is much more important than the random surface that you could touch.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Joseph Kanter indicated touching surfaces is no longer seen as the main transmission point. He emphasizes transmission is attained through disease carrying droplets in the air.
“What we do know, without a shred of doubt right now is that the virus can live on hard surfaces, sometimes up to 2 or 3 days,” Dr. Kanter said. “It still is concerning and people should still take a lot of precautions with it.”
Kanter says people need to keep surfaces clean and same way it’s been done since the beginning of the pandemic.
“When we talk about what a business can do or what a daycare facility can do for example to mitigate risk, wiping down with a disinfectant the high touch surfaces frequently throughout the day, doorknobs, handrails, elevator buttons, copy machines, that’s going to be an important part of breaking the cycle of transmission,” Kanter said.
“I would always try to keep my hands as clean as possible when I touch surfaces,” Dr. Figueroa said. “I’d be very mindful of what I touch. Nothing is going to be better than good hand hygiene.”
The shift in focus and understanding by the CDC is another way we’re learning more about COVID-19 and how to fight it’s potentially deadly spread.
The CDC, however, still says people should wash their hands frequently and clean surfaces that are frequently touched.