Readers should head to the CDC website for accurate and up to date information.
Coronavirus Facts So Far:
- The virus (named 2019-nCoV) originated from Wuhan in people who visited a seafood market, it’s thought the virus originated from a snake.
- There has been over 220,000 cases recorded so far and over 9000 deaths world wide.
- Many countries and regions are in lock down, travel has been halted and borders shut.
- China still has the most number of cases but lately seem to have got on top of the infection through lockdowns and forced isolation.
- Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding says the coronavirus has a R0 value of 3.8, making it more contagious than a cold virus.
The WHO declared COVID-19 as a pandemic in March, this a serious health hazard to the region and the world at large. The major concerns most health professionals have right now is capacity of health care systems within countries and there are reports in Italy of doctors being forced to choose who they treat and who they leave to die due to a lack of ventilators.
Important note: This article is not designed to be used as health advice, seek out your own government’s advice. For those in America please read the CDC website set up to help with coronavirus and for those in the UK check out Gov.uk for the latest advice. I am a blogger, not a health professional.
How does a Coronavirus UV Light kill the virus?
Scientists have been using UV light to kill bacteria, viruses and other single cell organisms like algae for decades. It’s a process called “Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation“, it works by breaking down the molecular bonds that hold their DNA together which prevents the virus from multiplying and breaking their life cycle. Instead of multiplying as normal they are unable to do this and simply die at the end of their life. Coronavirus can be controlled in the exact same way.
There are two methods to control coronavirus with UV light at home:
- With an air purifier which incorporates a UV light to kill and trap airborne viruses
- With a surface cleaning UV light that shines UV light onto walls and other surfaces to kill virus cells there
Many industries use UV light to sterilize, some of those include medical, food and people even run UV sterilizers on their pond to clear the water of algae. These are very simple and widely available products.
Coronavirus UV Light
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Don’t get me wrong, it will do the job but due to physics explained above and due to the less powerful bulb it will kill the virus at a slower rate but it will do a job which is just as good.
A normal room should be sterilised in 45 minutes or so in my experience, but I always think you should do a room twice with the bulb in different positions. This is to make sure that any objects blocking light such as furniture don’t provide shadow that the coronavirus needs to survive treatment. It improves coverage and makes sure it’s done properly.
I’ve included it though as I thought it was slightly more simple and included some features that the other product didn’t. it’s the exact same design, just a bulb stood up with nothing blocking it in any direction.
The best feature of the light was the delayed start, this enabled you to set the light and leave the room while it does it’s job with no exposure to yourself (which isn’t a huge risk anyway). It also shuts off by itself after a set amount of time through a timer which is great for leaving the light unattended. These features alone set it apart and make it a really friendly product.
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They feature a UV-C light like the products above but this is generally used to kill the bacteria and viruses that the unit captures in it’s filter material. Air travels through the unit too quickly for the UV-C to actually kill airborne cells directly.
They are still a good product though and highly recommended, this particular model features a HEPA filter which will capture very small particles and even smoke. It would do a good job cleaning air in your home during an outbreak but you also need something to clean surfaces and a coronavirus UV lamp is just better at that while also killing airborne cells.
Other Protections Against Coronavirus
Keeping yourself protected during an outbreak should be your number 1 priority. If you do not come into contact with the virus then you will not get infected, this is a key point which you must remember. Some tips to avoid contact are:
- Regularly wash your hands and use sanitizer
- Avoid contact with people showing symptoms
- Wear a mask
There are other products which I believe you should stock up on to give you the best chance fighting Coronavirus, some other things you may want to consider are below.
Virus Masks
A good quality virus mask is the first line of defence against coronavirus. You have probably seen these in use during flu season in Asian countries already, the reason is they work… Filtering the air you breath will lower your risk. I have already written a post about coronavirus masks here so I won’t go into much detail.
Stockpiling Essentials
If things do spread and the general population gets a bit frantic then things will quickly sell out locally, it’s best to have this stuff on hand already before things get to that point to ensure you and your family are protected. I would advise on stocking up on the following items:
- Disinfectants and cleaning supplies
- Batteries
- Water (bottled)
- Medicine
- Food
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Lowering your exposure to the virus is the best form of defence. If you can get yourself to a point where there is no need to leave your home in the event of an outbreak and self quarantine then you shouldn’t have the opportunity to come in contact with the virus.
Hand Sanitizers
I cannot stress the use of this enough! Become obsessed with washing your hands. Avoid contact with animals or surfaces other people touch (like door handles) and stop touching your eyes, ears or mouth. Washing your hands with regular soap and water is fine but having a gel hand sanitizer on hand too with a high alcohol content is recommended for times when you’re not near a sink. Use it often and liberally. Set a reminder on your phone for every hour and stick to it.
You also want to make sure you use hand sanitizer which is over 70% alcohol to be effective.
I would even go as far wearing gloves if the risk is high or you know there are cases of coronavirus local to you.
Clothing and Boot Covers
If you are forced to leave your home during an outbreak (avoid at all costs) then your priority should be to keep the virus outside your home when you return. This can be done by using:
- Decorating cover all
- Disposable shoe covers
I would also be sure to use a full face mask and ear protection (covered in the next point). Keep your shoes outside your home when you return, do not enter the home wearing anything that you were wearing for your trip and immediately take a long hot shower using lots of soaps and cleaning agents. Do not walk in and hug your wife or kids like an idiot either…
Eye and Ear Protection
The virus can spread through contact with the eye, ear and mouth. It’s important that you protect yourself properly from all three entry points as they are equally vulnerable. For eye and mouth protection a full face mask is perfect, for ear protection use cotton buds or ear plugs covered in tea tree oil which is a natural virus killer which won’t harm your skin.
Corona Virus UV FAQ
Can UV light kill viruses?
Yes, Scientists have known about this for decades. UV light which has wavelengths between 200 and 400 nanometres (nm) breaks the bonds within the cells DNA which leaves the virus unable to replicate and reproduce stopping the lifecycle of the virus. UV light is also effective against bacteria, fungus, mould and algae.
How long does it take for a Coronavirus UV Light to kill the virus?
The inverse square law applies to germicidal ultraviolet as it does to light: the killing power decreases as the distance from the lamps increases. The coronavirus will be killed in ten seconds at a distance of six inches from the lamp in an Ultraviolet Germicidal product.
Is UV light harmful to humans?
We naturally come in contact with UV light daily through the sun, it’s what gives us a tan in summer or while on holiday so long term exposure can give us sun burns. It can also harm your eyes if you were to stare into the bulb but for normal use of the products listed above you should have no real concerns.
How effective is UV sterilization?
UV sterilization is extremely effective. It’s a process that is widely used in many industries from food to water processing and purification.
Does a UV sterilizer kill airborne coronavirus?
Yes, it doesn’t matter if it’s in the air or on a surface the effect is the same. If the virus is exposed to UV light it will die.
Last update on 2021-05-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Should I stand next to the UV light and sterilise myself too?
No, it’s best to leave the room but you could use the UV light to sterilise clothes if that’s what you’re concerned above. Just leave them on a chair near the light, remember to do both sides and inside out.
You would get skin cancer and go blind. The ultraviolet light first sunburns your cornea and it gets worse from there. The ozone layer in our atmosphere filters out a lot of the damaging ultraviolet waves. The best wavelength/frequency for ultraviolet light sterilization is 260 to 265 nm (nanometers). The wavelength that provides germicidal irradiation is the UV-C bandwidth of 255 to 280 nm. Those are the wavelengths you should look for for the very best sterilization, but most manufactures pointedly do not mention that, and if they do, they are still suspect. Amazon offers a Quantados Ultraviolet Test Card (size of a credit card) for cheap Scan the card with an ultraviolet light source product and discover if the device you’re using is the real deal, or fake. It’s US$11.11. You’ll find that most products are fake because everyone is on the pandemic bandwagon and trying to attract your money. It’s not easy to find a valid product. But the science is golden, discovered back in 1878. The Test Card must show UV-C (the strongest bandwidth for sterilization) in GREEN lettering, else the frequency is not within 250 to 270 nm. Good luck finding a “real deal” product that does what you want it to do. If you do . . . post the model number.
HEY WE ALREADY WARNED YOU, I AM BANNING YOUR WEBSITE FROM WECHAT RIGHT NOW. NO VIRUS IN CHINA, WE VERY SAFE.
No Xi, don’t ban me please. I didn’t even mention the bats your freak population eat this time…
Oh this is a really good article! Thanks for covering these things to keep us save from Coronavirus.
You’re welcome!
Would something like a 50W UV 395-400 nm be effect for killing the virus on surfaces and packages / clothing
https://www.amazon.com/QUANS-Blacklight-Fishing-Aquarium-Waterproof/dp/B06XJZL97N/ref=as_li_ss_tl?keywords=uv+light+400nm&qid=1583622669&s=hpc&sr=1-25&linkCode=ll1&tag=findme10usa02-20&linkId=7457597cdda2dfec354febef39457e4b&language=en_US
Hmmm – it needs to be UV-C – well that sucks.
Mark,
No. The best wavelength/frequency for ultraviolet light sterilization is 260 to 265 nm (nanometers). The wavelength that provides germicidal irradiation is the UV-C bandwidth of 255 to 280 nm. Those are the wavelengths you should look for for the very best sterilization, but most manufactures pointedly do not mention that, and if they do, they are still suspect. Amazon offers a Quantados Ultraviolet Test Card (size of a credit card) for cheap Scan the card with an ultraviolet light source product and discover if the device you’re using is the real deal, or fake. It’s US$11.11. You’ll find that most products are fake because everyone is on the pandemic bandwagon and trying to attract your money. It’s not easy to find a valid product. But the science is golden, discovered back in 1878. The Test Card must show UV-C (the strongest bandwidth for sterilization) in GREEN lettering, else the frequency is not within 250 to 270 nm. Good luck finding a “real deal” product that does what you want it to do. If you do . . . post the model number.
Those UV lamps are NO LONGER available at Amazon. Aren’t there alternatives?
Any UV-C lamp will do the job, I’m struggling to keep the post updated as Amazon are selling a lot!
I’m a physicist, not a physician, but have you thought about designing an optical fiber mesh to surround the breathing tube of critical patients which would apply UV directly to the infected lung tissue? I suspect that the UV would pose some problems for the healthy lung tissue, but if a person is a death’s door, it might be good to try.
I’m not a doctor but at that point I think the virus would already be in the body so lighting up lungs seems pointless….
Thank you Max, great article, Loved the bat comment….
Does this look like it would work, or a scam…
60W UV Ozone Germicidal Sterilizer Lamp Led UVC Light Bulb E27 Corn Shape US
Tips:
1. Do not expose your eyes and skin to germicidal light during work! !! !! You have to leave the room. (Including pets). And, you need to turn off the light bulb before approaching it! !! !!
2. Before the germicidal lamp starts to work, you may smell a special burnt smell in the air. That’s the smell of harmful combustion particles in the air. Please do not worry
Package Included:
1 * 60W UVC bulb / 1 * 60W bulb + remote control
That looks like a legit product, not a scam.
Can u specify the wavelength of UVC and is far UVC effective for killing COVID19 yet causing no harm to humans? Can u quote the research on applications of uvc on killing germs n virus? Do u have more information on the light power, distance of exposure n disinfecting materials? Thx
Hello Wall,
I’m far from a doctor, merely a blogger. Citing science and research is not something I am qualified to do but I did link sources for all claims in the content, feel free to check them out.
Thanks
Hey Max, here is my thought for uv light. What about 464nm blue strobe light, longer wave length. less toxic.
What do you think?
I’m looking to purchase the most effective uv-c wands for masks, keys, packages, cell phone etc. There seem to be two styles and it is very hard to pinpoint difference. There are the purple/magenta led wands usually using 260-280 nm. Then there are very similar units, seeming to use a flourescent tube which emit a blue light and when the wavelength is specified, it’s often 254 – just below the 260-280 of the violet lights. Can you speak to the pros and cons of each of these types – perhaps a recommendation?
Thanks