Land, Chemicals and Redevelopment Division Pesticides Section • January 2021 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105 866-EPA-WEST • www.epa.gov/region9 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Pacific Southwest / Region 9 vvEPA Reopening Tribal Facilities — Effective Disinfection Preventing Exposure to COVID-19 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is reaching out to provide important resources as you move forward with efforts to reopen community facilities, such as schools, government buildings, and casinos. EPA realizes this is an extremely challenging time, and is aware that some tribes have been asked about the effectiveness of disinfectant products against the coronaviais that causes COVID-19. This fact sheet provides you with helpful tools and resources to support your reopening efforts. In addition to wearing masks and appropriate social distancing, a central feature for containment of the coro- navirus at tribal facilities will be the implementation of effective disinfection and sanitation practices, as well as the selection of effective and properly tested disinfectant products. Disinfecting high-touch surfaces (tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks, etc.) is important for protecting community members and staff from exposure to COVID-19. Effective disinfection of these surfaces requires choosing appropriate disinfectant products and applying them exactly as instructed by the label, as well as ensuring that the product remains in contact with the surface long enough to kill the coronavirus. All products that claim to be effective against the coronavirus must be proper- ly tested and registered with EPA, and must also have an EPA registration number. For information on how to select effective disinfectants, see EPA's List N: Disinfectants for Coronavirus (COVID-19): www.epa.gov/listra. Please note that children should not apply disinfectants. Disinfectants bear a child-warning statement, so keep- ing disinfectants out of reach of children is part of following the label directions. Please be aware that EPA does not routinely review the safety or efficacy of pesticidal devices against corona- virus. Pesticidal devices (such as ozone generators, UV lights, etc.) have NOT been reviewed by EPA. EPA cannot confirm whether such products might be effective against the spread of coronavirus. We sincerely thank you and appreciate all the hard work you and your staff are doing to keep tribal facilities safe and healthy for all. In keeping with our mission to pro- tect human health and the environment, we are here to support your efforts to safely reopen your tribal facilities. Please feel free to share this fact sheet, including the resource links on page 2, with tribal facility managers and staff. Disinfecting high-touch surfaces at community facilities is important for protecting community members and stafffrom exposure to COVID-19. ------- Resources Web portal for EPA coronavirus and disinfection information: www.epa.gov/coronavirus EPA-registered disinfectant products effective against the coronavirus that causes COVID-19: www.epa.gov/listn This is updated regularly as new disinfecting practices and products are identified. The EPA registration process ensures products are effective, safe, and properly labeled. CDC reopening guidance for cleaning and disinfecting schools: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communitv/reopen-guidance.html EPA coronavirus disinfection frequently asked questions (FAQs) web page: www.epa.gov/coronavirus/freauent-auestions-about-disinfectants-and-coronavirus-covid-19 Difference between disinfectants, sanitizers and cleaners: www.epa.gov/coronavirus/whats-difference-between-products-disinfect-sanitize-and-clean-surfaces COVID-19 surface protection information: www.epa.gov/coronavirus/there-anvthing-i-can-do-make-surfaces-resistant-sars-cov-2-covid-19 EPA-Centers for Disease Control guidance on proper disinfecting: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communitv/disinfecting-building-facilitv.html EPA one-page infographic on disinfectants: www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2020-04/documents/disinfectants-onepager.pdf Emerging pathogen (such as SARS-CoV-2) claims on registered product labels: www.epa.gov/coronavirus/what-emerging-viral-pathogen-claim Pesticide Product Label System (PPLS - a way to look up individual product labels): iaspub.epa.gov/apex/pesticides/f?p=PPLS:l National Pesticides Information Center Disinfectant Safety During the COVID19 Pandemic webinar: www.voutube.com/watch?v=epSOOTAMRc4 Healthy Green Schools webinar on school reopening in the era of COVID-19: www.healthvgreenschools.org/events/covid-19-k-12-school-reopening For more information: Find local EPA contacts by visiting www.epa.gov/pesticide-contacts and selecting 'Regional pesticide contacts.' In the Pacific Southwest / Region 9: Peter Earley: earlev.peter@,epa.gov. (415) 972-3850, Regional tribal pesticide liaison; Project Officer for Gila River, Salt River, Ak-Chin, and Shoshone Paiute Tribes of Duck Valley Allen Demorest: demorest.allen@epa.gov. (415) 947-4214, Project Officer for Cocopah, Colorado River Indian Tribe, Quechan, and Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona Norman Calero: calero.norman@,epa.gov. (415) 972-3793, Project Officer for Navajo Nation and Nevada Department of Agriculture ------- |