Non-Pharmacological Strategies and Interventions for Effective COVID-19 Control: A Narrative Review

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on the world, causing widespread illness and death. Focusing on prevention strategies to limit the spread of the disease remains essential. Despite the advent of vaccines, maintaining a vigilant approach to prevention remains paramount. We reviewed effective strategies to prevent COVID-19 transmission, including various prevention measures and interventions and both established practices and unresolved issues that have been addressed in meta-analyses, literature reviews, or in the health care context. Standard precautions are the cornerstone of infection control, with hand hygiene and mask use as key components. The use of surgical masks is recommended to prevent droplet transmission, while eye protection is recommended in combination with masks. In terms of room occupancy, ventilation is critical in reducing the risk of transmission in poorly ventilated environments. Chemical disinfection of indoor air with Triethylene glycol-based products can provide safe additional protection. Since viral RNA detection on surfaces does not necessarily indicate infectivity, the risk of transmission by surface contact remains low if surfaces are properly maintained and hand hygiene is practiced regularly. Thus, prevention of SARS-CoV-2 transmission requires a multifaceted approach, including reducing particle emissions from infected persons by wearing masks, eliminating aerosols by ventilation and air treatment, ensuring physical separation, and protecting exposed persons with masks and eye protection.

SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza Co-Infection: Fair Competition or Sinister Combination?

“…Future vaccination strategies should explore potential cross-protection conferred by influenza vaccines, while also elucidating the heterogeneous effects of different vaccination approaches. Non-pharmacological interventions such as mask wearing, social distancing, and hand hygiene remain pivotal measures for mitigating the transmission of both viruses [67]. As the world grapples with evolving respiratory virus infections, future research endeavors should unravel the complexities of co-infection, guide surveillance strategies, and inform the targeted interventions crucial for optimizing public health responses during influenza epidemic seasons and their impact on SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease outcomes.…”

Effects of Strain Differences, Humidity Changes, and Saliva Contamination on the Inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 by Ion Irradiation

“…A variety of disinfectants, such as sodium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide, alcohols, povidone-iodine, glutaraldehyde, ultraviolet radiation, and dry or moist heat, are used for disinfection. The direct inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 proteins and RNA is effective against all VOCs [ 9 ]. One method for inactivating microorganisms in the environment is the use of ions that are less harmful to the human body [ 10 , 11 ].…”