The Illusion of Safety: Why Hygiene Theater Fails in COVID-19
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Understanding Hygiene Theater
As the COVID-19 surge continues across the nation, an obsession with extensive cleaning practices has emerged.
National restaurant chains like Applebee's are assigning cleaning overseers to ensure every corner is scrubbed, while Planet Fitness promotes its sanitization efforts in advertisements, claiming “no surface is left untouched.” New York City has even begun nightly subway closures for deep cleaning, employing various disinfectant methods that include electrostatic sprays. In Wauchula, Florida, a resident was granted permission to spray hydrogen peroxide around town, suggesting that such actions should be a nationwide norm.
This overwhelming emphasis on antimicrobial cleaning raises a critical question: Are these efforts genuinely effective?
The Shift in Understanding Transmission
In May, the CDC updated its recommendations, clarifying that while the virus spreads efficiently through respiratory droplets in close contact, surface transmission is not the primary means of spread. Professor Emanuel Goldman from Rutgers University argues that the scientific evidence does not support surface transmission as a significant risk factor, highlighting the importance of airborne transmission instead.
This phenomenon mirrors post-9/11 security measures, where excessive focus on physical security, such as invasive TSA procedures, was often termed “security theater.” The pandemic has similarly intensified misdirected fears, leading to rituals that offer a false sense of safety without significantly reducing actual risk, a phenomenon now referred to as hygiene theater.
The Current Understanding of COVID-19
Despite ongoing research, scientists have begun to formulate a clearer picture of COVID-19's transmission methods. The virus typically spreads through larger droplets from sneezing and coughing, or smaller droplets from speaking, which can linger in the air. Transmission through surfaces—often referred to as fomites—appears to be infrequent, although hand hygiene remains crucial.
This contrasts with earlier panic, fueled by reports of the virus's longevity on surfaces. A study published in The Lancet criticized these findings, suggesting that the conditions of those experiments were unrealistic, requiring numerous individuals to sneeze on a surface to simulate the results.
Case Study: The Seoul Outbreak
One illustrative case is a significant outbreak in a mixed-use skyscraper in Seoul, South Korea. A call center on one floor experienced widespread illness, while less than 1% of the remaining building's occupants contracted the virus, despite sharing elevators and frequently touching the same buttons. Professor Donald Schaffner noted this as a prime example of airborne transmission overshadowing any potential surface spread.
While experts still recommend hand washing and cautious behavior in public settings, they caution against the extremes of hygiene theater. Such practices can divert resources from effective pandemic strategies, causing unnecessary disruptions and contributing to “prevention fatigue.”
Hygiene Theater's Consequences
The financial implications of hygiene theater are significant. New York City's subway system is projected to spend over $100 million this year on cleaning practices, while essential services may face cuts. Resources allocated to cleaning could be better spent on measures such as mask distribution or public health campaigns.
Moreover, the excessive cleaning rituals can create a misleading sense of security, potentially leading to increased infections. Many establishments, such as bars and gyms, where close contact is inevitable, should not be operating at all. Instead, they tout their cleaning efforts while inviting patrons into poorly ventilated spaces, which exacerbates the risk of airborne transmission.
Addressing the Real Threat
By channeling our anxieties into superficial cleaning rituals, we distract ourselves from understanding the primary transmission methods of COVID-19. As Goldman emphasizes, the focus should be on effective measures—mask-wearing, social distancing, and conducting activities outdoors. These strategies are essential for protecting ourselves and combating the pandemic effectively.
Chapter 2: The Ineffectiveness of Overzealous Cleaning
This video discusses the importance of proper cleaning procedures in health care settings and how they differ from excessive cleaning practices seen in everyday environments.
Chapter 3: Preparing for Future Surges
In this episode, experts discuss the preparation required for potential future COVID-19 surges, emphasizing the importance of understanding transmission methods and effective public health strategies.