PROTECTING YOURSELF AND YOUR CELLPHONES FROM COVID-19

Protecting yourself and your cellphones from Covid-19
By: Robert Foreman

As we all try to adjust to the new normal that the Coronavirus (Covid-19) has created, many of us our consciously trying to protect ourselves from becoming infected. This includes, continually washing our hands, using hand sanitizers, dealing with public restrictions and, in some cases, wearing protective masks and gloves. However, what tends to slip through the cracks in our protection efforts is a failure to recognize that Covid-19 can live on high-use surfaces. One surface that we all use on a daily basis is our cellphones. How often do we use our phones to text, make calls, check social media, and then touch our faces? Without proper precautions, our cellphones can be the delivery system for the very virus that we are trying to avoid.

Cellphones are constructed of glass, metal and plastics and some researchers have estimated that the virus can live on those surfaces for up to 9 days. So, if you are not thoroughly disinfecting your phone, as well as other heavy-use surfaces around your home, then you may be putting yourself at undue risk. Now, some would ask ‘Why should I worry about cleaning my phone if I’m just staying at home?’ The response to that would be ‘If you, or other people in your home, go out to the supermarket, doctor’s office, pharmacy or any other place that is deemed ‘essential’ then you are bringing the germs home and putting them on high-use surfaces, such as your cellphone.’

Of course, some people believe that by wearing protective gloves at all times that they can protect themselves from the virus. Yes, protective gloves are an excellent defense against Covid-19…if used properly. If you are wearing protective gloves and continually touching multiple surfaces, without properly disinfecting those surfaces, then you are just transmitting the virus to multiple places. And if those surfaces have not been properly disinfected then you are still potentially exposing yourself to the virus once you touch those same untreated surfaces with your bare hands. So, protective gloves are useful as long as you are disinfecting the high-use surfaces in your home and also changing the gloves on a regular basis by properly disposing of them.

For those wondering how they should properly disinfect their cellphone, Apple has offered some helpful tips. They recommend that people use Clorox wipes, or any wipes that contain 70% isopropyl alcohol, on the devices. Of course, prior to cleaning your phone, you should always switch the phone off and unplug it if you are charging it. Additionally, Apple recommends that you use soft, lint-free lens cloths, while using warm soapy water. However, be sure to avoid getting any type of water or alcohol in the charging port or headphone jack to avoid damaging your phone.

Now, for those who think that using any cleaning solution to disinfect your phone is a good idea, think again. Avoid using products such as compressed air, bleach, hand sanitizer and Lysol sprays on your phone. Apple has stated that such abrasive materials can scratch your phone and diminish the coating. (On a side note, one of my co-workers attempted to use hand sanitizer on his face and that didn’t work out well for him; the least of which was him becoming the butt of quite a few jokes.) So, remember, use only the proper solutions to disinfect the proper surfaces. Certain materials should only be used on your skin and other materials are meant for high-use surfaces only.

Bottom line, Covid-19 has impacted all of our lives and we are all waiting to get back to some sense of normalcy. Hopefully, that will be sooner than later. However, one thing is clear. We will get through this. Americans are strong and resilient, and we always bounce back. Yet, we must all remember to do our part to stem the flow of the virus so we can get back to our normal lives. That includes, properly disinfecting high-use surfaces, such as cellphones, and adhering to the protocols set by the CDC and the stay-at-home orders that many states have put into place. Fear, panic, and conspiracy theories should be avoided at all costs. We should all be vigilant in protecting ourselves while relying on our common sense and the medical professionals. Everyone stay safe and stay healthy!