Microbiologist: Urgent to test surfaces for Covid-19
KUCHING: Testing surfaces for the presence of Covid-19 virus is now getting more important and urgent now that Malaysia and Sarawak in particular, are experiencing the second wave of the pandemic.
These surfaces can be metal, wood, water and even air because there is no guarantee that after humans are tested free from it and buildings sanitized to kill it, everything would be fine, said microbiologist Douglas Bennet when met here yesterday.
The coronavirus can survive on metal and wood for nine days or more, on cardboard or plywood for 72 hours and even on copper which has natural anti-virus agent for hours long, he pointed out.
Bennet, who is attached to Intertek and brought here by local associate company EthosConnect to educate people, said it is well known around the globe that Malaysia is among few countries that has done well with testiing on humans and the enforcement of strict standard operating procedures (SOPs).
“Malaysia is among few countries which has done well in containing the pandemic and its people are among the best in sticking to the strict SOPs. Malaysia has done well when it comes to testing on humans. However, that should not stop it from proceeding to the next level which is surface testing,” he said when promoting Protek which focusses on health, safety and human well-being as well as certification. Bennet said surface testing would be using the equipment called Open QCPR and the process is almost similar to those used on humans. He, however, lamented that there is only one set of Open QCPR equipment in Malaysia and it existed when the USA allowed its export to other countries few months ago. The equipment is portable and, if need be, it can be ferried from Kuala Lumpur to Sarawak, he added. “The testing is fast and accurate. After the tests are done, the results will provide the client companies with the right decision on whether to take further action or would provide them with great assurance and confidence,” he said. It is imperative that companies go for surface testing as there is no gaurantee that items including door knobs and lift buttons at the offices are free of any microbiological activities including the presence of the coronavirus, he stressed. On another pertinent issue, Bennet said he believed that the coronavirus is natural and not man-made from any laboratory. He said it would be good for humans to stop consuming exotic animals as food or pets to prevent another pamdemic in the future. Bennet said scientists were split over the theory that the Covid-19 virus is airborne or only infectious through droplets but, in the end, they said it is airborne and could spread through airconditioning vents Also present at a surface testing demonstration conducted by Bennet here yesterday, were Intertek (Singapore and Malaysia) sales and marketing representative Gennive Soo, EthosConnect CEO Sim Ling Ling and its director Wilson Sim.
Malaysia is among few countries which has done well in containing the pandemic and its people are among the best in sticking to the strict SOPs. Malaysia has done well when it comes to testing on humans. However, that should not stop it from proceeding to the next level which is surface testing. Douglas Bennet