More people are incorporating a new routine into their daily work life — cleaning and disinfecting surfaces they come in contact with on a regular basis.
This routine is part of the new normal as people continue to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic and do their part to mitigate the spread of the virus.
“Basically, if you sneeze, cough or even talk while at your table or desk, you need to clean it,” said Patrick Wortmann, executive director of environmental health and safety at UNMC and the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
There has been a lot of discussion, Wortmann said, about when to clean and disinfect.
“We like to think of it being the same as the mask policy: I clean the desk or table for you, you clean the desk or table for me,” Wortmann said.
If it is a classroom, he said users should disinfect the space when they arrive and disinfect it before they leave.
If it is a personal workspace, such as an office or cubicle that more than one person might use, then the person should follow the same procedure and disinfect the space when they arrive and right before they leave.
If it is an enclosed office space that is only used by one individual, Wortmann said it is then up to the discretion of that person to determine how often to disinfect.
“Doing this is just as important as wearing masks for one another,” said Paula Nenneman, director of environmental services (EVS) with Nebraska Medicine and UNMC.
Nenneman said EVS will continue their regular cleaning schedule but the department is asking everybody to disinfect an area before and after using it.
She said it is important to note that disinfectants have a kill time, which is the length of time the solution needs to dwell on the surface being disinfected.
“Different disinfectants have a variety of kill or dwell times that it must remain wet on the surface before it dries in order to kill the virus or bacteria lingering there,” Nenneman said.
Both Wortmann and Nenneman said there are plenty of cleaning and disinfecting supplies available.
Cleaning stations are available at 250 locations across campus, and if anyone needs help finding them or ordering a station for their building, they can contact EVS at 402-559-4073 or visit the website.
Hand sanitizer refill stations also are available at many of the locations listed.
For more information about UNMC’s Recovery Implementation Plan and the fall semester, visit the coronavirus website.