Efficacy of frontline chemical biocides and disinfection approaches for inactivating SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern that cause coronavirus disease (COVID-19) with emergence of opportunities for green eco-solutions

Abstract

The emergence of severe acute respiratory disease (SARS-CoV-2) variants that cause coronavirus disease is of globalconcern. Severe acute respiratory disease variants of concern(VOC) exhibiting greater transmissibility, and potentiallyincreased risk of hospitalization, severity and mortality, areattributed to molecular mutations in outer viral surface spikeproteins. Thus, there is a reliance on using appropriatecounter-disease measures, including non-pharmaceutical in-terventions and vaccination. The best evidence suggests thatthe use of frontline biocides effectively inactivate coronavirussimilarly, including VOC, such as 202012/01, 501Y.V2 and P.1that have rapidly replaced the wild-type variant in the UnitedKingdom, South Africa and Brazil, respectively. However, thisreview highlights that efficacy of VOC-disinfection will dependon the type of biocide and the parameters governing the ac-tivity. VOC are likely to be similar in size to the wild-type strain,thus implying that existing guidelines for use and re-use of facemasks post disinfection remain relevant. Monitoring to avoidinjudicious use of biocides during the coronavirus disease erais required as prolonged and excessive biocide usage maynegatively impact our receiving environments; thus, high-lighting the potential for alternative more environmental-friendly sustainable biocide solutions. Traditional biocides maypromote cross-antimicrobial resistance to antibiotics in prob-lematical bacteria. The existing filtration efficacy of face masksis likely to perform similarly for VOC due to similar viral size;however, advances in face mask manufacturing by wayincorporating new anti-viral materials will potentially enhancetheir design and functionality for existing and potential future pandemics.