SINCE the Covid-19 lockdown was lifted months ago last year, my family and I have finally found the courage to venture out to places that observe the standard operating procedures (SOP).

However, if a place looks crowded and isn't well ventilated, we'd either abandon our plans, go elsewhere, or just head home and order food online.

Whilst sitting at our table waiting for our food, I've watched how the staff members clear and clean the other table near us.

These days, it's quite common to see them do it with a cloth and spray bottle that presumably contains some sanitising fluid because it smells of either Dettol or Clorox.

Everything seems to look good and the SOP appear to be observed.

But guess what? The table is still sticky! I've noticed how some of the cloths they used to wipe tables appear to have seen better days. The thing about rags is they don't have to look new; they just have to be clean.

Me being me, I'd take a wet wipe to wipe the area where my elbows land and where my food would be placed. Lo and behold, the sheets actually turned brown with dirt!

It dawned on me that people are either taking shortcuts, or they don't understand the difference between cleaning, sanitising and disinfecting. Each one is actually a different and separate process.

PREVENTING INFECTIONS

Effective cleaning must be carried out before sanitising. Cleaning is done with just soap and water, and then rinsed with clean water, preferably warm. Detergents remove dirt and grease.

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "Cleaning with products containing soap or detergent reduces germs on surfaces by removing contaminants and decreases risk of infection from surfaces. If no one with confirmed or suspected Covid-19 has been in a space, cleaning once a day is usually enough to remove virus that may be on surfaces."

You may want to either clean more frequently or choose to disinfect, in addition to cleaning in shared spaces if it's a high traffic area with a large number of people, if the place is poorly ventilated, doesn't have access to handwashing, and/or is occupied by people at risk of contracting Covid-19.

Once you've cleaned such areas with soap and water, only then would sanitising it with disinfectants be effective.

CDC also states that "the virus that causes Covid-19 can land on surfaces. It's also possible for people to become infected if they touch those surfaces and then touch their nose, mouth, or eyes. In most situations, the risk of infection from touching a surface is low. The most reliable way to prevent infection from surfaces is to regularly wash hands with soap and water, or use alcohol-base hand sanitiser."

PLAN AND IDENTIFY

We should have a plan. Caregivers, restaurant operators and just about everyone should be mindful of how we can best keep ourselves, and those around us, safe.

We need to identify the different types of surfaces and how often they're touched. The more people touch a surface, the higher the risk. Frequently-touched surfaces include doorknobs, tables, light switches, handles, stairs railing, lift buttons, desks, phones, toilets, faucets, sinks, counters and shopping carts.

As individuals, we can spray and wipe as we go along. We can also do this at home by teaching our house-help to do it daily. Food outlets and restaurants should train their staff on the proper use of cleaning and disinfecting products.

When using strong disinfecting products, first read the instructions on the product label and understand what's required.

They work best at the correct dilution, and need time to work. Depending on the product and dilution, contact time for it to be effective can be anything from 15 seconds to 10 minutes.

Always ensure that you're in a well-ventilated place when handling these chemicals. Some disinfectants and sanitisers are toxic and the residues should be rinsed off. They can trigger asthma in some people.

If you've used gloves, remember to wash your hands with soap and water after removing them. Wearing gloves isn't a substitute for proper hand hygiene. They can still pass on germs in the same way as dirty hands.

TAKE STEPS

There are certainly different levels of cleaning and sanitising standards. Healthcare settings are more stringent in how they do things and the products they use. Their staff would also need to wear protective gear while sanitising the different areas.

We can learn from them too, especially if we have loved ones in our care who are vulnerable and prone to infections. And if you've had to care for someone who's sick or diagnosed with Covid-19, different measures that are more stringent should be taken.

We should collectively take steps to limit contamination. Washing hands, especially after coming home from outside activities, after disinfecting and sanitising your house, rooms and indoor environment, are just some of them.

The views expressed here are entirely the writer's own.

The writer volunteers for the Special Community Society of Ampang. She can be reached at [email protected].