Is There A Novel Coronavirus Infection in The External Environment? How To Guard The Key Gate Of Medical Institutions? The Transcript Of The Press Conference Is Here

On December 14, the 88th press conference on COVID-19 prevention and control was held in Zhejiang Province. Officials from the Health Commission of Zhejiang Province and the Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention introduced the overall promotion of COVID-19 prevention and control and economic and social development. The following is a transcript of the question and answer.

Q: At present, the situation of epidemic prevention and control in Our province is still quite grim, especially in some important public places such as supermarkets, markets and schools. How is the eradication work being carried out?

Lu Ye, Deputy Director of institute of Environmental Health, Provincial CENTER for Disease Control and Prevention: First of all, thank you for your question. The question you just asked is about whether people are infected with COVID-19 in the environment. First of all, the novel coronavirus transmission in the external environment requires a certain amount of virus, also depends on the temperature and humidity of the environment, and most importantly, a certain amount of time of contact in order to cause infection. Therefore, we advocate window ventilation in the hope of diluting the number of virus infection in the indoor environment as soon as possible, and the virus discharged to the outdoor is easy to die. There is therefore no need for large-scale outdoor disinfection, which is ineffective and wastes limited resources.

In public places such as supermarkets, shopping malls and farmers' markets, as well as indoor areas such as offices and schools, indoor air circulation should be strengthened, doors and Windows should be opened for ventilation as far as possible, and air disinfection equipment in line with relevant national standards can be purchased if conditions permit. The air conditioning and ventilation system in operation should be cleaned and disinfected every week, and the pipeline equipment should be cleaned and disinfected regularly. At the same time, increase the exhaust air volume of toilets, basements and elevators.

Secondly, the overall environment of the above places should be kept clean and tidy, and adequate disinfection equipment should be set up in the entrance and toilet to encourage the public to do a good job in hand hygiene and disinfection. Preventive disinfection of indoor environmental surfaces is recommended at least twice a day. For confined and narrow Spaces such as toilets and elevators, as well as escalator handrails, door handles, public seats, shopping baskets, shopping carts and storage cabinets for temporary goods, recreational facilities, classroom desks, chairs and teaching AIDS and other places frequently touched by hands, disinfection should be focused on and increased frequency of disinfection. It is recommended to use 500mg/L chlorine-containing disinfectant with effective chlorine or 75% alcohol and 2000mg/L compound quaternary ammonium salt for preventive disinfection in these places. Spray or wipe for disinfection under the premise of personal protection. All cleaning and disinfection utensils, such as mops and rags, should be disinfected after use and kept properly. Clean and disinfect public restaurants and canteens in a timely manner, and transfer and dispose of household garbage in a timely manner.

Finally, the frequency of disinfection of public transport vehicles and logistics transfer vehicles should be strengthened in the near future to ensure public health. If COVID-19 cases or suspected cases are found in such places after epidemiological investigation, a special department should conduct terminal disinfection. We believe that as long as we do effective cleaning and disinfection and everyone keeps good personal hygiene habits, our public places will be safe. thank you

Q: We know that autumn and winter are the most common seasons for respiratory diseases. The press conference mentioned the need to strictly control the "key door" of medical institutions. So I would like to know whether enough attention has been paid to the prevention and control of hospital infection. What are the specific measures?

Sun Liming, Deputy director of Provincial Health Commission: Thank you for your question. Your question is also of great concern to the public. At present, the situation of epidemic prevention and control in Our province is grim and complex, and it is in a critical period. The epidemic is an order, and prevention and control is a responsibility. All the medical staff in The province acted on the order and fought day and night on the front line of epidemic prevention and control. Meanwhile, we also attached great importance to the prevention and control of hospital infection.

On the first hand, it is mainly to continue to guard the three lines of defense: one is to guard the front gate of the hospital. We will continue to do a good job of checking codes, measuring temperatures and supervising the wearing of masks. Two is to guard the outpatient line of defense. We will vigorously promote pre-examination and triage, strengthen detection of high-risk patients, and strengthen closed-loop management of patients with fever, so as to find the source of infection in a timely manner. Time - based appointments for diagnosis and treatment will be carried out to reduce the number of people gathering. Third, guard the defensive line of hospitalization. We will adhere to the system of nucleic acid testing before hospitalization to ensure that inpatients are screened safely. We will set up transitional wards for emergency patients, and actively treat them under the condition of proper protection, so as to reduce the risk of hospitalization.

The second aspect is to strengthen the management of three types of personnel. First, strengthening patient management. It is clear that patients with respiratory symptoms such as fever and cough must go to the fever clinic or clinic. Nucleic acid testing should be carried out on all fever outpatients and inpatients, and nucleic acid testing should be carried out on other patients if necessary. Patients in hospital do not leave the ward if it is not necessary, and ensure that personal protective measures are taken when they leave the ward. Second, strengthen the management of escorts. In principle, it is not necessary to not accompany them. If it is necessary, a fixed escort will be arranged and nucleic acid testing will be carried out to strengthen health monitoring and management of escorts. Escorts also carry out the system of not leaving the ward unless necessary to ensure that personal protection measures are taken when leaving the ward. Third, strengthen the management of hospital staff. Security, cleaning and training staff have been integrated into hospital staff management, staff health management has been carried out, nucleic acid testing every two days and approval management system has been implemented for staff going out. At the same time, the working system of "two staff members, two supervisors and one inspector" has been implemented to strengthen the supervision force of hospital protection, intensify the inspection, and strictly implement the standard protection of medical staff to prevent cross-infection.

Due to the need of epidemic prevention and control, medical services here have brought some inconvenience to the general public. We also appreciate your full understanding, support and cooperation. We're going through this together. Thank you.

Q: As we said at the previous press conference, the tracing test of this case is the Delta variant strain, which can be transmitted by respiratory droplets, contact and aerosol. So from individual point of view, how should we scientifically protect disinfection? Can you tell us something about it? thank you

Lu Ye, deputy director of environmental Health Institute of Provincial CDC: Everyone is very concerned about your problem. At present, the most effective form of novel Coronavirus prevention is COVID-19 vaccination, which, combined with a good healthy lifestyle and scientific disinfection, can effectively cut off the route of transmission.

On the one hand, according to the available scientific evidence, the current medical-grade sanitary disinfectants are effective in inactivating any novel Coronavirus variant strain. The disinfection product that public consumer buys from normal channel basically sees outer package whether to indicate "disinfection product sanitation permits certificate number" these words, such disinfection product can be used safely namely, operate according to use operation specification can achieve the result.

On the other hand, as the Novel coronavirus can spread through the air and droplets as well as through hand contact. Disinfection methods can also be divided into air disinfection, environmental object surface disinfection and hand disinfection, that is, to know where the enemy is, in the air or on the surface of the object, or on your hands.

First, disinfection products can be suspended in the air to inactivate viruses in the air if they are labeled as disinfectants with air disinfection function, such as chlorine dioxide and hydrogen peroxide disinfectants.

Second, disinfectants identified as the surface disinfection function of environmental objects can effectively inactivate viruses falling on the surface of objects and the ground. For example, chlorine-containing disinfectants, alcohol-based disinfectants and compound quaternary ammonium salt disinfectants need to be wiped or sprayed.

Third, for hand disinfectants, we recommend using alcohol-based or quaternary ammonium salts to effectively touch every inch of skin on our hands, which is why we recommend the "six-step method" for hand disinfection. For tableware disinfection, it is recommended to use high temperature boiling or steam disinfection. For high temperature resistant clothing can choose thermal washing, home often drying clothes.

Of course, no matter which kinds of disinfection means after action is finished, the effect is also reduced, there is also the problem of disinfection factor residue. So chemical disinfectants must not be directly sprayed on people, not to mention on food spraying. When we get home, we just need to put our clothes and shoes and hats in the designated area, and then wash and disinfect our hands.

Finally, you need to wear a mask when you go out, because masks allow you to create an effective protective barrier when you are in close contact with others, to protect yourself from infection and to avoid contaminating others with your own microbes in your mouth or nose. Disposable medical masks or surgical masks are recommended for the public to go out. When entering indoor public places, especially in medical institutions, it is recommended to use masks once. When wearing masks, you should pay attention to covering your mouth and nose completely, and adjust the tightness of masks through nose clips. Pay attention to hand hygiene before and after wearing the mask. If you need to adjust the position of the mask during use, use an elastic band to adjust the position. Do not touch the face of the mask directly. When you feel that your mask is damaged or not breathing well, or that your mask has been flooded, you should replace it immediately with a new mask when no one is around. After use, masks should be discarded in designated garbage bins and cleaned and disinfected in time. Thank you, that's all.