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COVID-19 contamination of high-touch surfaces in the public domain

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posted on 2022-09-05, 08:30 authored by Niall T Hennessy, Sinead ToomeySinead Toomey, Virginie Gautier, Sophie O'Reilly, Eoghan De BarraEoghan De Barra, Emer O Hanrahan, Bryan HennessyBryan Hennessy

The virus that causes COVID-19 disease (SARS-CoV2) is a major global threat to public health, with mortality and serious morbidity rates of up to 5 and 15%, respectively [1, 2]. It is also very damaging to the global economy. The virus can be transmitted by airborne spread or by direct contact with contaminated surfaces [3, 4]. It is thus crucial to determine if high-touch public surfaces are contaminated. This could have important public health implications by identifying contaminated surfaces and reinforcing the important public health messages regarding hand hygiene, especially in children. In this project, we focused on playground equipment in public spaces, public toilet surfaces and buttons at pedestrian crossings throughout Dublin because these are high-touch public surfaces that may contribute to the spread of the virus. 

Funding

North East Cancer Research and Education Trust (NECRET)

Science Foundation Ireland COVID rapid response grant (20/COV/0109)

History

Comments

This version of the article has been accepted for publication, after peer review (when applicable) and is subject to Springer Nature’s AM terms of use, but is not the Version of Record and does not reflect post-acceptance improvements, or any corrections. The Version of Record is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11845-021-02881-z

Published Citation

Hennessy NT, et al. COVID-19 contamination of high-touch surfaces in the public domain. Ir J Med Sci. 2022:1–2.

Publication Date

10 January 2022

PubMed ID

35001334

Department/Unit

  • Beaumont Hospital
  • Molecular Medicine
  • International Health and Tropical Medicine

Publisher

Springer Nature

Version

  • Accepted Version (Postprint)

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