Combating coronavirus: Disinfect shoes before entering your homes, advise UAE doctors

Shoe covers are also extremely important for all the doctors working in the Covid-19 wards.

According to a new study, the soles of healthcare workers' shoes may function as carriers of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19). The study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that about half of healthcare professionals working in intensive care units (ICUs) carried coronavirus on the soles of their shoes. The report also found that there was a 100 per cent positive rate from the floor of the pharmacy, where only healthcare workers and no patients travelled.
Dr Adel Al Sisi, chief medical officer at Prime Hospital, said it is important to understand prevention methods. "Shoe soles are also a kind of surface and we know this deadly virus can stay on surfaces from a few hours until nine days. These surfaces can be of different kinds including our skin, clothes, shoes, plastic, steel or glass, which must be disinfected frequently to avoid the spread of the virus."
He said healthcare professionals use personal protective equipment (PPE) at work. "Shoe covers are extremely important for all the doctors working in the Covid-19 wards as they move around checking all wards and can become a source of transmitting the virus. Hence it is very important that they use shoe covers and remove them as soon as they are done with their shift."
He advised residents to disinfect their shoes after coming back from outside. "In these tough times, there is no harm in taking extra precautions. To prevent the spread of Covid-19, we have to cut the circle of transmission of the virus by cleaning, washing, sanitising and disinfecting."
Dr Tanuja Tajuddin, general physician at Medeor Hospital, Al Ain, warned that shoe surfaces can be breeding surfaces and carriers of many bacteria, viruses and fungi. Therefore, they need to be regularly cleaned. "As per Department of Health, all doctors are required to handle any Covid-19 cases in full PPE and we follow the same in the OPD."
Even before the study by the CDC, Dr Tanuja said all staff at the hospital were told that the virus can linger on the shoe surface. Hence, shoe covers were a must for them throughout their work hours.
"In case the shoe cover is not available, we are advised to use a separate pair of shoes for hospital and then leave it in the fumigation room, disinfect it and wear another pair of shoes when going home. Our hospital has made it very clear that we must not take inside our houses the same pair of shoes that we wear to work as these viruses can stay on the shoe surface," she added.
"As per CDC, we have been told to use a mixture of 70 per cent rubbing alcohol and water to disinfect our shoes before and after our shifts at the hospital."
She advised residents to wear shoe covers in addition to gloves and masks when going out. "These covers are easily available at all pharmacies. In case they do not get shoe covers, ensure you either wash or disinfect your shoes before entering your house."
How to clean them
Dr Tanuja said some shoes can be washed in the washing machine. Others made of leather can be cleaned using regular dish or hand washing soap and water.
Hygiene begins at home: How to enter your house
The Dubai Health Authority recently tweeted precautionary measures you need to take before entering your homes.
>Once you enter your home do not touch anyone or anything.
>Remove your shoes at a designated location, preferably outside the house. You should sanitise them.
>Place your bag, wallet, phone, sunglasses, and shopping bags (if any) in a designated box outside your entryway. These items should be sanitised at a later point.
>Remove your clothes and immediately place them in a laundry bag.
>Take a shower and ensure that all exposed areas of your body (hands, wrists, neck, feet) are cleaned thoroughly.
>Don't forget to sanitise the previously mentioned items with a sanitizing solution while wearing gloves.
>Once sanitisation is completed, remove and discard the used gloves, proceed by washing your hands thoroughly.
saman@khaleejtimes.com