**3. Cleaning and disinfection of surfaces for SARS-CoV-2 control**

SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted primarily through respiratory droplets and close physical contact. Longer rangee airborne transmission may also occur in hospital areas, due to aerosol-generating medical procedures. Environmental surfaces may act as a source of virus spread in health care settings where certain health care procedures are performed [11, 57]. The virus may be spread via the indirect pathway involving touching of contaminated surfaces followed by touching of susceptible mucous membranes. Alternatively, virus may be re-aerosolized from contaminated surfaces including toilets [58], carpets [59], indoor air [60], fomites [61], etc. Therefore, environmental surfaces such as tables, chairs, light switches, electronic equipment, and toilets, along with medical equipment such as blood pressure cuffs, stethoscopes, etc. must be properly cleaned and disinfected to interrupt the possible transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

SARS-CoV-2 contains a lipid envelope which renders it more susceptible to common disinfectants than non-enveloped viruses, such as rotavirus, poliovirus, etc. [7]. Coronaviruses have been found to be susceptible to the same disinfectants and disinfecting conditions employed to control the risk of several other enveloped viruses. The common disinfection protocols using hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlorite, peracetic acid, and UV light that have been employed for the civil and industrial wastewater treatment and inanimate surface hygiene have been found suitable for control of SARS-CoV-2 (**Figure 1**).

SARS-CoV-2 was found to be effectively inactivated by 70% isopropanol, 70% ethanol, 0.1% H2O2 and 0.1% sodium laureth sulphate within 60 seconds of exposure on different surfaces, including stainless steel, glass, cardboard, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and cotton fabric [62]. Ethanol and H2O2 can conveniently be used for disinfection against SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare settings. Moreover, this study also highlighted the importance of common household detergents (sodium laureth sulphate) and hand soap in rapid inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 [62]. Similarly, in another study, original WHO recommended hand rub formulations I and II [63] and modified formulation I (80% (w/w) ethanol, 0.725% (v/v) glycerol, and 0.125% (v/v) hydrogen peroxide) and formulation II (75% (w/w) 2-propanol, 0.725% (v/v) glycerol, and 0.125% (v/v) hydrogen peroxide) were found effective for reducing SARS-CoV-2 titers to background level within 30 s [64]. Moreover, it is also established that under laboratory conditions >30% (v/v) concentration of 2-propanol and ethanol may also efficiently inactivate SARS-CoV-2 in 30 s [64]. A limitation of alcohol-based disinfectants is the specified *Environmental Persistence of SARS-CoV-2 and Disinfection of Work Surfaces in View… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.104520*

**Figure 1.** *Steps for application of safe and effective disinfectant against SARS-CoV-2.*

inactivation time of exactly 30 s, which must be strictly followed for effective inactivation of virus. In another study, chemical disinfectants including citric acid, quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC), ethanol, and sodium hypochlorite at various concentrations were found effective against SARS-CoV-2 and another associated coronavirus on glass surface. Within a contact time of 0.5 to 10 minutes, these microbicides were able inactivate ≥3.0 to ≥ 6.0 log10 [15]. Furthermore, it is a fact that SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV are highly susceptible to disinfectant and detergent treatments, and reports also confirm the susceptibility of SARS-CoV-2 against these chemicals [29]. Therefore, the periodic cleaning and sanitization of HITES should be done to prevent the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. To minimize the adverse impacts of chemical disinfectants on the environment, organizations working in the field of COVID-19 control have recommended the use of microbicides with low environmental impact, such as hydrogen peroxide, phenolic compounds, and hydroalcoholic formulations for COVID-19 control [65].
