Dear community
Different models of these chambers have been installed in many countries in order to combat COVID 19. In South-America, such as Peru and Chile, mobile disinfection chambers have also been built. However, the respective health authorities have pronounced about it claiming that these chambers are not adequate, may harm people skin among other things, and may promote the infection at a faster rate. Finally, they added there is no evidence about their effectiveness. In contrast, countries such as China and Vietnam are promoting their use. What do you think?
Thank you for your opinion in advance.
Such chambers or open sprays are commonly used, but their effectiveness is not proven by any scientific study
To avoid spread of COVID-19, many countries are using disinfection chambers while other countries are using open disinfection spray for any supplies, humans.
A common disinfectant used is 70% alcohol spray. Chlorinated water should not be used because it can cause injuries health effects in humans.
There is still no scientific study to confirm effectiveness of such disinfection chambers or sprays for the duration they are being used.
https://www.thesundaily.my/business/m3-tech-partners-at-systemization-in-covid-19-disinfection-chamber-business-IG2282813
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/04/584639/no-evidence-show-disinfection-chambers-can-reduce-risk-covid-19-infection
Early studies at the laboratory level had shown that the virus can survive for a long time on different surfaces. I think this was the motivation behind these disinfection chambers. However, these laboratory conditions have nothing to do with reality: in the city of Heinsberg / Germany, many surface tests were taken in the homes of infected people and, despite finding the genetic material of the virus, it was no longer capable of reproducing. As these chambers are installed outdoors, where it is even more difficult for the virus to survive, I think they are totally useless.
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Whilst mobile disinfection units may be beneficial. It is important that these are not confused with other uses of disinfectant.
It has been suggested that ingestion of disinfectants may be beneficial to treat patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. DO NOT DO THIS IT IS HARMFUL TO HUMAN HEALTH.
The above article may be of interest and could provide some light relief.
They will be ultimately harmful to patients.
Mali S, Pratap A, Thorat B. The Rise of New Coronavirus Infection-(COVID-19): A Recent Update. EJMO. 2020; 4(1): 35-41
Thank you all for your answers. It is heartwarming to read your points of view.
Regarding the kind of disinfectant, I would like to know your opinion about electrolyzed water. It has been proven against norovirus. In the food industry, it has been even used as a novel disinfectant since it is only based on salt and water. Likewise, the pH value could be adjusted to acid or alkaline. Finally, I think it may not even be harmful to human health when getting in contact.
Thank you in advance.
Disinfectants that are used for clothes and listed in EPA-registered for use against SARS-CoV-2, need five to ten minutes contact time Most of the spraying process in / at the disinfection chamber gate takes 20 to 30 seconds which is not
enough to deactivate coronavirus. , spraying the external part of the body with alcohol or chlorine does not kill the virus inside the body of an infected person and can be harmful to mucous membranes (i.e. eyes, mouth). It is a respiratory disea not a skin disease. Social distances using facial mask and hand washing or hand sanitisera is the keys for prevention.
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Quarantines are effective in controlling the spread of COVID-19. But reading about mobile disinfection chambers is giving another good prospective.
Dear Ahmed, there is, in fact, a whole list of disinfectants allowed to use by EPA. Those can be used on contaminated surfaces but can be harmful to human skin. In contrast, what about hypochlorous acid? The University of Vietnam developed a disinfectant chamber employing its use. Moreover, companies such as EcoloxTech and BrioTech develop and distribute this solution which is approved by the FDA.
Do you think this may be harmful to human health?
Thank you in advance
But there is still lacks more evidence agaist their use or a stament from CDD o NHS about them. I think they should be not used in these circumnstances.
I believe much remains to be proven given the poor amount of data. there is no discussion that an infected person won't stop spreading the infection or be healed by using the booth. There are however several other facts missing here to deem the chambers useless. For example, how come that cleaning surfaces every few hours and specially if spaces are to be shared by other people, are effective by just wiping with a cloth dampened in disinfectant solution (unless a very strong and potentially harmful one), the solution does not remain there for minutes, only a few seconds, and you don't soak the area. Thus, that would too be useless and yet is mandatory by health regulations in a company operating these days.
Here goes another matter. Most people are not wearing proper face masks, you see any kind of pieces of clothes there being work by people on public transports and even some made from neoprene that are almost impossible to breath and makes you to actually breath in and out from and to the sides of the facemask, no real filtration there. Clothes worn by people surrounding this person could get contaminated, in this and in many other ways
If we take the fact that the virus does not really survive much in most surfaces or at least not with its capability to multiply still active, then, that means that infection happens only by real close contact with an infected person, which does not seem to be the case exclusively.
Consider EPA approved disinfectants which are even harmless to skin, eyes, and other soft tissue, by EPA specifications (citric-based ones). In this case, why not adding to all other existing precautions, to walk thru a well-designed chamber with carefully chosen disinfectant? I am not sure it works; it just does not make sense that it does not either, and I believe it can't be that harmful to use one.
The technological developments in transportation played important role in the spread of the diseases in the 19th century. For instance, a cholera epidemic which broke out in India in 1826 reached London and Paris in six years. This seems very
topical today considering the problems with airline travel and pandemics such as Ebola, MERS, SARS and Zika. Diseases today can spread geographically faster than at any time in history. With the industrial revolution and the use of steam power in marine transportation, a significant increase in the number of expeditions from Europe to Turkey, especially to Istanbul, occurred. Infectious diseases, such as cholera and the plague, that were prevalent throughout a wide geographical area from India to Europe occasionally reached epidemic proportions during the 19th century. The extension of international trade made the port cities potential sources of contagious diseases throughout the Mediterranean. Quarantine structures were used to isolate maritime travellers and crew, called Lazarettos, were used in the framework of applications as determined by legal regulations. Generally, the days spent in quarantine, which exceeded the duration of the journey between destinations, as well as poor accommodation conditions negatively affected the travellers. The Ottoman state also attempted to enforce precautions against contagious diseases, such as cholera and the plague, as they were among greatest problems of that century. Due to the cholera epidemic in 1831, all ships that arrived in Istanbul from the Black Sea were placed
under quarantine by the Ottoman state. In 1835, a quarantine centre was established in Çanakkale in an attempt to prevent the threat of epidemics from the Mediterranean area. The Istanbul Supreme Council of Sanitation was established in 1839. A consolidated International Sanitary Convention was agreed in 1903. These were early forms of global health governance [cited from Travel from Europe to Istanbul in the 19th century and the Quarantine of Çanakkale, Journal of Transport & Health, 2017, 4, 10-17].
Not at all
because contaminated hands or clothing are not the main source of infection
I understand but that the dynamic mutation of the virus is one of the challenges in developing a vaccine to combat it
WHO recommends thus:
Are public systems for disinfecting individuals such as spraying via tunnel or chambers safe to use?
No. Spraying of individuals with disinfectants (such as in a tunnel, cabinet, or chamber) is not recommended under any circumstances. This practice could be physically and psychologically harmful and would not reduce an infected person’s ability to spread the virus through droplets or contact. Even if someone who is infected with COVID-19 goes through a disinfection tunnel or chamber, as soon as they start speaking, coughing or sneezing they can still spread the virus.
The toxic effect of spraying with chemicals such as chlorine on individuals can lead to eye and skin irritation, bronchospasm due to inhalation, and potentially gastrointestinal effects such as nausea and vomiting. In addition to health safety concerns, the use of chlorine in large-scale spraying practices may prevent this resource from being used for important interventions such as drinking water treatment and environmental disinfection of health care facilities.
Dear scientific community, thank you very much for citing information, and for your valuable appreciation.
Disinfection chambers may be a waste of resources, such as money, time, solutions, etc. However, some countries are still using them despite the governmental notifications. It is a fact that people still carry a bottle of alcohol for disinfecting their hands and bags when they go buying; pour chlorine in a small container for disinfecting their shoes; and still use it for cleaning the floors of their houses.
It is undeniable that infected people, and their families, guarded at their homes and still infected are psychologically affected, and any information they may hear, could take it seriously.
I hope you all are ok.
