CUYAHOGA COUNTY, Ohio — As officials continue to track COVID-19, cleaning experts are urging people to practice good hygiene and to clean and disinfect their living and work spaces.
Officials reporting there's now more than 400 confirmed cases in the United States.
School staff, business employers, and aircraft staff are taking precaution by cleaning and disinfecting to fight off the corona virus.
But Melinda Gonzalez, Owner of All 4 You Cleaning Services, says just spraying and wiping down surfaces may not cut it.
“You want to go a step beyond,” Gonzalez said. “It’s something that us as people should already be thinking about.”
Gonzalez says it’s important to go beyond your everyday cleaning routine.
She says things like weights at a gym, toys at daycare centers or the legs on a table are not cleaned often and could be carrying germs and viruses.
“Even your most amazing cleaners are not touching every single knob or computer desk or chair that we’re sitting in,” she explained. “There's certain areas that you're just not going to touch no matter how much of an amazing cleaner that you are."
Gonzalez says she leans on technology to keep her customers protected from those germs and viruses. The system she uses sprays Clorox chemicals into air and around forgotten areas.
“This is not going to take over your everyday dusting or cleaning of your restrooms or vacuuming. Those things still need to be done on your day to day basis. This is an add on,” Gonzalez said.
RELATED: Ohio Department of Health officials say state is preparing for the arrival of COVID-19
Additional Coronavirus information and resources:
COVID-19/2019 Novel Coronavirus Overview from the CDC:
“2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV/COVID-19) is a virus (more specifically, a coronavirus) identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China. At this time, it’s unclear how easily or sustainably this virus is spreading between people. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can infect people and then spread between people such as with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).”
“When person-to-person spread has occurred with MERS and SARS, it is thought to have happened mainly via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza and other respiratory pathogens spread. Spread of MERS and SARS between people has generally occurred between close contacts.”
From News 5 and affiliated news outlets:
News 5's Coronavirus continuing coverage page
How to prepare your family and pets for COVID-19
EPA releases list of approved disinfectants to use against COVID-19
How to protect yourself from coronavirus when flying
Symptoms
The symptoms of coronavirus are fever and lower respiratory tract issues, such as cough and shortness of breath, according to the Cuyahoga County Board of Health.
Travel
Anyone traveling internationally should review plans in advance of their trip, and check the CDC’s COVID-19 Travel Information Page for daily updates and travel alerts.
Click here for the CDC COVID-19 Travel Information Page
Practice Good Hygiene
The CCBH recommends the following good hygiene practices to prevent coronavirus, as well as the flu, colds and other illnesses:
Sneeze or cough into the bend of your elbow to keep germs from spreadingRegularly wash your hands with soap and water/use alcohol-based hand sanitizer in betweenDon’t share cups, spoons, forks, etc. with anyoneDon’t make food for anyone if you are sickDon’t go to work or school if you are sickVisit a doctor, urgent care or emergency department if you are sick – don’t take chances
Please contact your medical provider with any questions.
Guidance for those with compromised immune systems
Click here for specific guidance from the CCBH for anyone at higher risk for becoming ill.
Additional Resources
Cuyahoga County: See the CCBH page on coronavirus here.
Ohio Department of Health:
Click here for the Ohio Department of Health’s Coronavirus information page.
It is updated daily at 2 p.m. with the current number of confirmed cases, persons under investigation and persons under investigation who tested negative for the disease.
As of Thursday afternoon, there are zero confirmed cases in Ohio, three persons under investigation in Ohio, seven persons who have tested negative for COVID-19, and a total of 255 people who were or are under health supervision since the novel coronavirus was first reported.
More resources from ODH:
Fact sheet
Prevention infographic
Resources and information
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The CCBH has created this list of coronavirus-related resources from the CDC:
Homepage for COVID-19 materials and information
Fact sheet – Chinese
Fact sheet – English
Fact sheet – Spanish
Guidance for businesses
Guidance for colleges and universities
Guidance for communities and mass gatherings
Guidance for healthcare facilities
Guidance for healthcare professionals
Guidance for people with elevated risk for illness
Guidance for pregnant women
Guidance for risk assessment
Guidance for schools
Guidance for travelers
What you can do to stop the spread of COVID-19 – Chinese
What you can do to stop the spread of COVID-19 – English
What you can do to stop the spread of COVID-19 – Spanish
If you are sick with COVID-19 – Chinese
If you are sick with COVID-19 – English
If you are sick with COVID-19 – Spanish
Preventing spread of COVID-19 at election/polling/voting locations
Prevention and treatment
Symptoms – overview
World Health Organization
Coronavirus information
Mythbusters – the truth about food, packages, pets and other things related to COVID-19
Video – What is COVID-19?
Video – What is my risk of getting COVID-19?
Video – What is my risk of getting COVID-19?
