Latest update January 30th, 2025 6:10 AM
Latest News
Don’t mix disinfectants with detergents – Food and Drugs Dept. warns
– to carry out inspections on eating houses, manufacturers
The Government Analyst – Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD), in collaboration with the Environmental Health Unit (EHU) of the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), is advising the general public on the principles of cleaning followed by disinfection of environmental surfaces and objects in households, institutions, eating houses/food service establishments and manufacturing premises.
Director of GA-FDD, Marlan Cole
This is to reduce the risk associated with the spread of the COVID-19 virus, where strict cleaning and disinfecting measures must be employed, it was explained.
“Cleaning is the process of applying energy to remove dirt (organic matter) from frequently touched or used surfaces and objects using soap and water or detergents, along with some mechanical action (brushing, wiping or scrubbing). Cleaning does not kill microorganisms (germs) such as the COVID-19 virus but it reduces significantly the number of germs that may be present on a surface or an object thereby reducing its spread,” GA-FDD explained.
It was pointed out that disinfection is the process of using chemicals to kill microorganisms – germs such as the COVID-19 virus.
“For the process of disinfection to be effective it must be applied after surfaces or objects are cleaned. Also, the length of time the disinfectant is in contact with the surface or object (contact time) must be over one minute or as is otherwise stated on the label.”
The department reminded citizens not to mix cleaning solutions with disinfectants in an attempt to clean and disinfect surfaces or objects at the same time because fatal or dangerous gases can be created with such mixtures.
“More importantly, the effect of the disinfectant will be reduced when it is mixed with a detergent, resulting in microorganisms (germs) such as the Covid-19 virus not being killed. Consumers are reminded also to pay close attention to the Instruction of Use section of labels when applying disinfectants,” it was noted.
It was pointed out too that commonly used surfaces and objects that must be cleaned followed by disinfection to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus are tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets and sinks.
“Even though the COVID-19 respiratory virus spread – at the time of this advisory – has not been conclusively linked to contaminated surfaces or objects, evidence of past coronaviruses’ mode of transmission makes the above-mentioned points relevant in the interest of the public’s health.”
The department said that the New England Journal of Medicine in published research findings and the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in the USA suggest that the COVID-19 virus can remain on surfaces or objects such as copper for four hours; on cardboard, cloth and wood for one day, on glass for two days, and stainless steel and plastic for as long as four days.
“Therefore, as Guyana is about to ease out of restrictions established to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the GA-FDD and EHU-MoPH are aware of an upsurge in the manufacturing, importation and distribution of cleaning and disinfectant solutions.”
Moreover, the department said it will continue work towards actively sampling and analyzing disinfectants to determine inter-alia, percent alcohol, percent free chlorine and phenol coefficient – to determine disinfectant’s germicidal strength.
“Disinfectants tested that are found not to comply or follow established standards will be removed from circulation on our local market and those imported will be restricted from being released for use in Guyana.”
It was also disclosed that inspectors and environmental Health Officers in the regions and other municipalities of Guyana will be actively inspecting and swabbing surfaces in eating houses/food service establishments and manufacturing premises to ensure they are properly disinfected (sanitised–meaning being free of germs) to prevent or reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus on contaminated environmental surfaces or objects.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
The third parties will not survive this year’s elections
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- The fate of third parties in this year’s general and regional elections is as predictable... more
OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus
Antiguan Barbudan Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The upcoming election... more
Weekend Cartoon
