Hand-surface-hand transfer didn’t start with Sars CoV-2, nor will it end with it!
The fundamental role of hand-surface-hand transfer has also come to into sharp focus, with varying reports that SARS CoV-2 can last from a few hours to days on hard surfaces, which has led the public to be more conscious about what they touch and to consider what might lie there. This concern should not be limited SARS CoV-2 as many other day-to-day infections, such as Influenza A, MRSA, C.difficile, Streptococcus and Staphylococcus, that can be transferred correspondingly.

Elevator buttons can be high germ transfer areas
Associated with reducing hand-surface-hand germ transfer is the importance of hand washing, which has also come to the fore, and irrespective of whether carried out to the score of ‘Happy Birthday or ‘God save the Queen’, its importance has come into our everyday consciousness for reducing the transmission of transient microbes on to the surfaces we touch. The enhanced cleaning regimes announced by many public transport companies last week will help to reduce traveller anxiety, along with the risk of hand-surface-hand transfer for those on the first journey of the day. However, those that travel later will still be exposed to the transient microbes brought on to the bus or train/tube carriage at every stop; even with enhanced hand washing, the risks are high as we subconsciously touch our faces around 20-30 times an hour.
We all understand these dangers in today’s climate, but the same existed before SARS CoV-2 and will remain afterwards. Along with SARS CoV-2, many of these infection transfers won’t affect healthy adults, but they can have a serious effect on those with low immunity, those on cancer treatment or the older age-group.
So, how can surfaces help to break this unseen cycle of transmission? The use of disinfectants and detergents is a start, but to be clear, for SARS CoV-2 there are no “certified to kill” hand gels, and surface cleansers; and in any case, once the surface has been wiped and dried the disinfectant stops and any microbes subsequently landing on the surface bring you back to square one.

Human hands working on laptop on office background
By using Liquid Guard®, a nano-liquid coating containing a permanent bond anti-microbial agent, you create a constant kill environment for any hard surface (i.e. door handles, hand rails, input devices and screens) with a micro-glass layer which is certified to kill on contact: Influenza A (a similar chemical structure to SARS CoV-2 ), MRSA, C.diff, E.Coli and many other bacterial infections 24/7 – 365. This two-part clean and coat application is quickly and easily carried out , and with a corresponding textile application, makes it highly suitable for all forms of public transport – and beyond!