Coronavirus (COVID-19)

What is Coronavirus (COVID-19)?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses known to cause diseases ranging from the common cold to more serious diseases such as Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
Coronaviruses were identified in the mid-1960s and are known to infect humans and certain animals (including birds and mammals). The primary target cells are the epithelial cells of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract.

What are the symptoms of a person with COVID-19?

The most common symptoms of are fever, fatigue and dry cough. Some patients may experience soreness and muscle pain, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are generally mild and begin gradually. In severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death. 

How is the new Coronavirus transmitted?

The new Coronavirus is a respiratory virus that mainly spreads through close contact with a person carrying the virus. The primary method is through:

• saliva, coughing and sneezing of infected persons onto surfaces
• direct personal contact
• hands, for example by touching the mouth, nose or eyes with unwashed hands
• In rare cases, infection can occur through fecal contamination.

How long can Coronavirus survive on surfaces?

It is not certain how long the virus that causes COVID-19 will survive on surfaces, but it seems likely to behave like other coronaviruses. A recent review of the survival of human coronaviruses on surfaces found large variability, ranging from 2 hours to 9 days, so for this reason it is recommended to disinfect surfaces regularly. The survival time depends on a number of factors, including the type of surface, temperature, relative humidity and specific strain of the virus. The same review also found that effective inactivation could be achieved using common disinfectants such as sodium hypochlorite, which is commonly referred to as bleach.

How is sodium hypochlorite produced?

At a time when the availability of sodium hypochlorite on the market is limited and also the movements of people and goods is either not permitted or recommended, the best solution is to produce it using on-site systems.
Hypochlorite can be produced on-demand, via electrolytic systems with common consumables: water and cooking salt.
De Nora manufactures and markets on-site sodium hypochlorite generation systems. Systems produce different concentrations (free available chlorine) and quantities according to the requirements of the user.