February 4, 2020
1 Route of Transmission of COVID-19
The routes of transmission of COVID-19 are droplet transmission and contact transmission.
○ Droplet Transmission
Droplet transmission refers to cases of infection by breathing in the virus contained in the spray (droplets) from coughs or sneezes of an infected person.
○ Contact transmission
Contact transmission is infection caused by touching a contaminated surface with your hand and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
2 Disinfection at home or inside the public facilities
It is important to keep frequently touched places clean and hygienic. It is known that rubbing alcohol is effective for sanitizing the skin, including hands, and that sodium hypochlorite is an effective disinfectant for surfaces.
(From COVID-19 Q&A, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
Disinfectant | Location | Object | Method | |
Sodium hypochlorite Rubbing alcohol |
Home |
Living room Dining room |
Door knobs, window handles, light switches, tables, chairs, telephone handsets, PC keyboards, etc. |
Pour a decent amount of disinfectant into a paper towel, wipe down the surface, and let it air dry. If the surface is wet, wipe it dry first, then wipe down with a paper towel soaked in disinfectant. |
Bathroom | Faucets, door knobs, window handles, light switches, etc. | |||
Toilet | Flush lever, toilet bowl lid, etc. | |||
Workplace and communal residences | Common-use areas | Elevators, auto-locks, buttons on photocopiers, etc., door knobs and handles on building entrances and exits, faucets in shared toilets and kitchenettes, telephone handsets, etc. |
* If using sodium hypochlorite
• Dilute to the volume stated on the product according to the application before use.
e.g.) If the product has a concentration of 6%, into a 2-liter PET bottle, pour
0.1% = approx. 33 mL (6-7 capfuls of a PET bottle)
0.05% = approx. 17 mL (3-4 capfuls of a PET bottle)
0.02% = approx. 6.7 mL (1-2 capfuls of a PET bottle)
(1 capful = approx. 5 mL).
• If using on metal surfaces, wait about ten minutes before wiping with a damp cloth.
• Do not spray with a spray bottle.
• Read the instructions printed on the product well before use.