Commission "Virus Disinfection" issues statement on the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2

Freiburg/Berlin, March 2020 - The joint commission "Virus Disinfection" of Society of Virology (GfV) and the German Association for the Control of Viral Diseases (DVV) has drawn up a statement on the use of disinfectants in cases of suspected or confirmed infection with the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The publication is now available on the GfV website.

As there is currently neither a vaccine nor medication available to prevent or treat the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, comprehensive hygiene measures are currently of particular importance.

In clinics and practices, hand and surface disinfection is a central part of these measures. The statement summarises which disinfectants are suitable for inactivating the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2: All disinfectants with proven limited virucidal efficacy are effective. Products with the limited virucidal PLUS and virucidal spectrum of activity can also be used. Suitable products can be found in the lists of the Association for Applied Hygiene (VAH) and the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). As there may currently be supply bottlenecks for disinfectants, alcoholic solutions produced in pharmacies according to the standard approval 2 propanol 70% (v/v) or the ethanol-based WHO formulation I or 2 propanol-containing WHO formulation II can alternatively be used for hand disinfection.

The use of disinfectants is only necessary and sensible in medical facilities and - after consultation with the doctor or the public health department - in the domestic environment of proven infected persons. The authors of the statement once again point out that for healthy people, regular and thorough hand washing with soap for at least 20 seconds is the most important measure to protect against infection with the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

The current statement was prepared under the leadership of PD Dr Maren Eggers, Chair of the GFV/DVV Commission on Virus Disinfection.

The full statement is available at: https://www.g-f-v.org/stellungnahmen_detail

Reprint requested - please send a copy.
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