Cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces in the context of COVID-19: interim guidance, 15 May 2020

The COVID-19 virus is transmitted mainly through close physical contact and respiratory droplets, while airborne transmission is possible during aerosol generating medical procedures. At time of publication, transmission of the COVID-19 virus had not been conclusively linked to contaminated environmental surfaces in available studies. However, this interim guidance document has been informed by evidence of surface contamination in health-care settings and past experiences with surface contamination that was linked to subsequent infection transmission in other coronaviruses. Therefore, this guidance aims to reduce any role that fomites might play in the transmission of COVID-19 in health-care3 and non-health care settings.