The World Health Organization (WHO) already describes the new coronavirus that emerged in China as a pandemic, but, fortunately, it has stressed that it is the first pandemic that we can control.
As you may have already heard, to achieve this you must take precautions such as washing your hands often, try not to touch your face a lot, cover your mouth and nose with a disposable tissue when coughing or sneezing, or do it on your elbow to avoid spreading the virus that causes covid-19 disease.
Cleaning has been reinforced in many homes and businesses, especially in frequently touched items such as doorknobs or railings.
But there is another object that we use countless times a day and perhaps you did not think to clean it so often: the cell phone.
You carry it in your pocket, you put it in your bag, you leave it on the desk … some don’t even go to the bathroom without his company. Have you thought about the number of germs that your phone can carry?
And now, there is the possibility that the new coronavirus may be added to these, a probability that grows or decreases depending on where you live and how widespread or not the virus is there.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the US agency in charge of the health area, until now the transmission of the new coronavirus through surfaces has not been documented.
According to the CDC, contagion occurs “more commonly” through respiratory droplets that we release when coughing or sneezing than through objects that have neither life nor substances.
Still, the agency’s website, which reports to the US Department of Health, recalls that there is “evidence” that “suggests” that this new virus may remain viable for hours and even days on surfaces of various materials; therefore, it is recommended to clean and disinfect those that are visibly dirty.
Clean your cell from the coronavirus without damaging it
As the CDC explains, there is a difference between cleaning and disinfecting, processes that must be done in that order. With the first, you remove dirt and reduce the number of germs, and with the second, you kill many of those that were still left after cleaning.
Apple recommends turning off the phone on its website and removing all cables before cleaning. Then, use a cloth with anti-lint treatment (for example, the one that the optics give you when you buy new lenses) slightly moistened to remove the dirt. Samsung suggests on its website to do it with a soft and dry cloth, and only moisten a corner a little if necessary. According to the South Korean manufacturer, in the latter case, movements must be made from top to bottom, and then the dry corner is passed to remove moisture.
Both companies recommend not resorting to cleaning products and Apple also discourages those that apply compressed air to avoid damaging the cell phone.
Prevents the open areas of the device from getting wet, such as the entrance of the charger or earphone cable.
And to disinfect?
According to Apple, you can use wet wipes containing 70% isopropyl alcohol for the exterior surfaces of the iPhone. Bleach is totally discouraged.
If you don’t have one, consider buying a screen protector, so you could clean it with more peace of mind that you are not wearing out the screen.
