Handling Cleanup Efforts After COVID-19 Is Confirmed

April 5, 2021 Roberta Garthwait

A worker has tested positive for COVID-19 — now what? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued detailed guidance for cleaning and disinfecting the workplace after an exposure event. The agency’s recommendations include the following:

• Close areas used by the potentially infected person for enhanced cleaning.
• Open outside doors and windows to increase air circulation in the area.
• Wait as long as practical before cleaning or disinfecting (24 hours is optimal).
• Clean and disinfect all immediate work areas and equipment used by the potentially infected person, such as offices, bathrooms, shared tools and workplace items, tables or work surfaces and shared electronic equipment like tablets, touch screens, keyboards and remote controls.
• Vacuum the space if needed. Use a vacuum equipped with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, if available. Wait until the room or space is unoccupied to vacuum.
• Provide cleaning workers with disposable gloves. Additional personal protective equipment (e.g., safety glasses, goggles, aprons) might be required based on the cleaning/disinfectant products being used.
• After cleaning, disinfect the surface with an appropriate EPA-registered disinfectant on List N: Disinfectants for use against SARS-CoV-2.

Follow requirements in OSHA standards 29 CFR 1910.1200 and 1910.132, 133, and 138 for hazard communication and PPE appropriate for exposure to cleaning chemicals. Once the area has been disinfected, it can be opened for use. Workers without close contact with the potentially infected person can return to the area immediately after disinfection. If it is more than seven days since the infected person visited or used the facility, additional cleaning and disinfection is not necessary.