Quaternary ammonium compounds can linger on surfaces and in indoor air and dust long after the disinfectant has dried.
Guido Mieth/DigitalVision via Getty Images
Quaternary ammonium compounds, also known as QACs or quats, are commonly used antimicrobials also found in many household products. Soap and water may be a safer bet when cleaning surfaces.
Spring Zhou, University of Wollongong and Tava Olsen, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
During COVID, rich countries have used masks and gloves from their medical stockpiles. But not all countries are so fortunate. We found the best way to help. It may not be what you think.
Carey Wilson, The University of Melbourne and Thibault Renoir, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health
Early reports suggested an apparent increase in OCD relapse rates and symptom severity during the pandemic. But a year on, we’re learning this may not be the case.
While it may be deflating, events like the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade are best watched from home this year. Here, the Harold the Fireman balloon lies face down as he readied for the parade on Nov. 27, 2019.
Gary Hershorn via Getty Images
Inaction over the next few months could cost tens of thousands of lives. Here are things you should do now to stay safe and to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Hoarding, stockpiling and panic buying have all increased during the pandemic.
Grace Cary via Getty Images
The global pandemic has fueled illicit online sales of COVID-19 commodities, some of which are dangerous or illegal. Researchers are assessing the size and reach of this underground market.
Ford employees assemble ventilators.
AP Photo/Carlos Osorio
Ford is assembling ventilators, LVMH is making hand sanitizer, and Chanel is making masks. Here’s why these and dozens of other companies are doing it.
Flags fly outside of Montréal City Hall in June 2018. Health Canada has suspended official languages rules on bilingual labelling in an effort to speed up the importation of certain disinfectant and cleaning products during the coronavirus pandemic.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sidhartha Banerjee
François Larocque, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa and Linda Cardinal, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa
Seven million French-speaking Canadians shouldn’t have to decipher English-only labels during the pandemic. Ottawa must take into account the fundamental rights and safety of all Canadians.
The shortage of masks could get worse.
Aleksandr Zubkov/Getty Images
Shortages of face masks may grow worse as state-wide lockdowns end. An economist suggests price controls.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria (coloured yellow) enmeshed within a human white blood cell (coloured red). MRSA is a major cause of hospital-associated infections.
(NIAID)
Antimicrobial resistance is a public health and economic disaster waiting to happen. If we do not address this threat, by 2050 more people will die from drug-resistant infections than from cancer.
Hand sanitisers can contain ingredients that may cause antimicrobial resistance.
Maridav/ Shutterstock
Since the Cold War, Americans have shifted from engaging in active self-rescue to passively waiting for help from a centralized, bureaucratic federal emergency response.
When word of COVID-19 spread, consumers started stockpiling goods like toilet paper in their homes, both disrupting the supply chain system and creating living spaces crammed with paper products. It isn’t necessary.
(Erik Mclean/Unsplash)
Bulk buying disrupts the balance of the supply chain. Here’s how supply chains combat hoarding of products like toilet paper.
A woman buys hand sanitizer made by Spirit of York Distillery in Toronto on March 19, 2020. The distillery switched their production over to hand sanitizer following the coronavirus shutdown, with all proceeds going to charity.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
It’s clear that our post-pandemic future will be different. Current signs of good will amid entrepreneurial initiatives give us some cause for optimism.
Disinfecting an area takes time and effort. And there is only so much you can do.
AP Photo/Seth Wenig
The coronavirus, like many infectious diseases, can live and spread on inanimate objects in the world around us. An epidemiologist explains how and gives some advice on how to minimize the risk.
A Muslim man prepares for prayer by doing a ritual washing.
mustafagull/Getty Images
Islamic law requires Muslims to ritually clean their body before praying. This guidance has particular relevance at a time when hand-washing is important to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Soap and hot water is the best way to clean your hands, but sanitizer is a good second choice.
AP Photo/Ric Feld
Professor, Research Chair in Language Rights, Faculty of Law | Professeur, Chaire de recherche Droits et enjeux linguistiques, Faculté de droit. 2021 Fellow, Fondation Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa