Smartphones and COVID-19: What You Need to Know

News about the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) is everywhere, and the fear of its imminent spread is changing the way we live our daily lives. And while schools, businesses and entertainment venues are increasingly closing in an effort to curtail the spread, the fact is the majority of us must still go out in public for a myriad of reasons.

Obviously, access points for public places can be especially dangerous in terms of germs, with doorknobs, door handles and keypads being touched by so many people. Even keycards get passed around, with each user unsure whether or not previous users have taken precautions.

VIZpin, a smartphone-based access solution, has several unique advantages that innately limit the spread of COVID-19 :

• Smartphones allow users to unlock a door without touching any surfaces of a reader, keypad or other device
• Users rarely share phones with others if asked – limiting the exposure of the device directly to the owner of it
• With businesses and facilities closing as precautions – access can be given to individuals who must enter a building that’s closed for business, for example to gather the necessary tools to work from home. Access can be done conveniently anywhere, anytime without anyone having to be there in person to let them in.

While phones do carry risk, as well, sources report that there is no need to be overly concerned unless your phone has somehow been in contact with mucus or saliva from someone who is infected. In fact, some go so far as to say that because phones aren’t shared, they may be extremely unlikely to be contaminated by someone else.

No matter how much or how little a threat you believe cellphones pose, however, it is still wise to know how to properly sanitize them. And if you’re an administrator of a VIZpin or other smartphone-based access solution, you may want to share the details with your users, too.

According to abc News, among other national news sources, Apple recently updated their language on how to clean their products, including phones:

• Use a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe of Clorox Disinfecting Wipe
• Do not use bleach
• Gently wipe the device’s hard, non-porous surfaces (the display, keyboard or other exterior surfaces)
• Avoid getting moisture in any opening
• Don’t submerge your device in any cleaning agents
• Don’t use disinfectant wipes on any fabric or leather surfaces

There are still many unknowns about the coronavirus, like how long it can survive on surfaces, but The World Health Organization reports that it could last for hours or even days. Cleaning your phone is definitely wise, and reminding users of your smartphone-based access solution to do so and how to properly do it is the right thing to do.