Health

Covid-19 Spreads Via Surfaces Like Phones & Doorknobs, MOH Advises To Clean Them Often

Covid-19 Can Also Spread Via Common Surfaces Like Phones, So Remember To Keep Them Clean

The Covid-19 outbreak has gotten people scrambling to prepare all things imaginable to guard themselves — surgical masks, sanitisers and even huge piles of basic necessities.

But one thing many of us may be missing is something we hold dear every day – our phones. Yes, the devices we can’t seem to put down, among other things we touch regularly, can also pose a risk to our health.

Source

In a report by Channel NewsAsia (CNA), director of medical services at the Ministry of Health (MOH) Kenneth Mak reminded the public that the virus can also spread via contaminated surfaces.

Cleaning dirty surfaces more important than masks

This is part of the Ministry’s response against a circulating letter that advises people to wear masks at all times. It is purportedly signed by 4 medical doctors.

Here’s the letter, in case you haven’t seen it:

Source

How the virus spreads is pretty straightforward – touch a contaminated surface, and then touch your eyes, mouth or nose with the same unwashed hands, and you may be at risk.

The other confirmed pathway is direct transmission, in which you’d have to be close to an infected person to come into contact with droplets from their sneeze or cough.

Since chances of the former are more likely than the latter, Mr Mak said, “it is not wearing a mask that’s important, it’s hand washing”.

 

Hand-washing and sanitising still the best defence

Perhaps to quell public anxiety, Mr Mak added that there is no evidence that Covid-19 is airborne.

Therefore, wearing a mask will protect you from people’s sneeze or cough residues at best, which you can otherwise avoid by steering clear of crowds.

Instead, hand washing and good hygiene may be the best community defences available, especially since we touch so many objects throughout the day.

Mr Mak said:

The best form of advice I can give you to defend yourself is, in fact, washing your hands regularly and frequently with soap and water, and also to be mindful of the things that you commonly touch.

Phones are more dangerous than you might think

Remember that statistic a while back that your phone is 10x dirtier than your toilet seat? Yeah, that’s relevant again.

Of all the surfaces we come into contact with daily, your phone is likely the biggest infection risk.

Source

As Mr Mak put it:

You may want to make sure you that you clean the surfaces of your phone as well, as you touch it. It’s subconscious, we often do that, but these are the important things to make sure you protect yourself.

Our phones are among the most commonly touched surfaces, along with doorknobs, desks, keys, and wallets. These seemingly innocuous objects often escape our attention and scrutiny, and that is in fact what makes them dangerous.

It’s not the things that you see that’ll get you – it’s the things that you don’t.

So instead of panicking, mass-buying groceries, and wearing masks like it’s going out of fashion, maybe we should look at disinfecting our phones first. And washing our hands. And maybe just being more hygienic in general.

Source

In conclusion, just wash your hands and sanitise your surfaces. Keep yourself clean before worrying about other people. Odds are, just like with termites, the threat could come from within the home.

Featured image adapted from freepik.

Johnny Chen

Johnny makes a damned good traditional spaghetti carbonara, and he swears it's indistinguishable from the best Rome has to offer.

Recent Posts

Driver in M’sia goes after police vehicle in reverse police chase, tells officer he left wallet on rear window

"Felt like I was a law enforcement officer," said the car driver.

30 Mar 2025, 6:19 pm

Driver reverses car into pedestrian walking into Jurong parking space, netizens say both at fault

The pedestrian went to a hospital on her own afterwards.

30 Mar 2025, 5:35 pm

Cathay Cineplex at JEM closes on 27 March, marking sixth shutdown in under 3 years

Four outlets remain at Causeway Point, Downtown East, Century Square, and Clementi 321.

30 Mar 2025, 5:05 pm

Japanese restaurant in Bangkok loses S$1.6K as customers flee without paying following earthquake tremors

Netizens argued whether customers should return to pay for their half-eaten meals.

30 Mar 2025, 4:10 pm

M’sian man rescues 2 children from rooftop pool of hotel as glass barrier shatters during Bangkok earthquake, suffers cuts on foot

He booked another hotel on a lower floor as he was worried that the building…

30 Mar 2025, 3:31 pm