Modeling COVID-19 infection risks for a single hand-to-fomite scenario and potential risk reductions offered by surface disinfection

Abstract

We used a quantitative microbial risk assessment approach to relate log₁₀ disinfection reductions of SARS-CoV-2 bioburden to COVID-19 infection risks. Under low viral bioburden, minimal log₁₀ reductions may be needed to reduce infection risks for a single hand-to-fomite touch to levels lower than 1:1,000,000, as a risk comparison point. For higher viral bioburden conditions, log₁₀ reductions of more than 2 may be needed to achieve median infection risks of less than 1:1,000,000.

Keywords: Disinfection; Fomite; QMRA; SARS-CoV-2.