Based on what is currently known about COVID-19 and similar illnesses such as SARS and MERS, person-to-person transmission is the most likely source of infection, most frequently through respiratory droplets passed from talking, coughing or sneezing within about 6 feet.
Transmission by contaminated surfaces has not been documented, but there's evidence that the new coronavirus may remain viable for hours or days on surfaces.
In general, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends cleaning visibly dirty and frequently touched surfaces, followed by disinfection, as a best practice for the prevention of COVID-19 and other viral respiratory illnesses. The CDC released these guidelines to help households prepare for the possible spread of the coronavirus.
• Clean surfaces and objects that are touched frequently, including remotes, refrigerator and faucet handles, desks, doorknobs, railings, computer keyboards, light switches, phones and toys.
• Use soap and water to remove viruses and bacteria. Why? Cleaning safely removes germs, dirt and impurities from surfaces. Cleaning does not kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading various types of infections.
• Chemical disinfectants can kill germs on surfaces, but you can't skip the cleaning step. Those chemicals by themselves won't necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, disinfecting can further lower the risk of spreading infection.
• To disinfect with bleach, mix ⅓ cup of bleach per gallon of cold water or 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of cold water. Always mix bleach with cold water for disinfecting; hot water renders bleach ineffective. Bleach can degrade over time, so don't stockpile it.
• To ensure that the bleach-and-water mixture you use is effective, mix it the day you'll use it. Protect it from sunlight. Only apply to clean surfaces, as organic materials inactivate bleach.
