Smartphones are always in our hands. This does not bode well for millions of users in this climate of the coronavirus global pandemic.
How does coronavirus get to a patient’s lungs?
The vastly spreading coronavirus COVID-19 has infected more than 165 000 people worldwide and is responsible for a death toll that has surpassed 6 600.
There is currently no vaccine developed to cure the virus.
The only way to prevent it from spreading is practising good hygiene.
Moreover, the virus depends on the movements of a host to get to where it needs to go — the lungs.
If the coronavirus is transmitted to one’s hands, rubbing eyes, picking at the nose or biting nails is sufficient movement to transfer it inside the body where it begins its reign of terror.
How do we prevent coronavirus infections when, on average, humans touch their faces more than 16 times in an hour?
Apple: How to safely clean your iPhone
For one, Spectrum Health‘s video on the importance of washing hands for at least 20 seconds consistently can be helpful.
Also, maintaining a clean environment and constantly disinfecting the things you touch, like smartphones, is essential.
Apple has released a guide on how to safely clean your iPhone without damaging any of its protective layers.
- Use only a soft, lint-free cloth. Avoid abrasive cloths, towels, paper towels, or similar items.
- Avoid excessive wiping, which might cause damage.
- Unplug all external power sources, devices, and cables.
- Keep liquids away from the product, unless otherwise noted for specific products.
- Don’t get moisture into any openings.
- Don’t use aerosol sprays, bleaches, or abrasives.
- Don’t spray cleaners directly onto the item.
This method, the tech giant revealed, is safe enough to apply universally. However, users must be cautious when applying alcoholic products to their smartphones.
“Using a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, you may gently wipe the hard, nonporous surfaces of your Apple product, such as the display, keyboard, or other exterior surfaces. Don’t use bleach. Avoid getting moisture in any opening, and don’t submerge your Apple product in any cleaning agents. Don’t use on fabric or leather surfaces,” Apple wrote.
To avoid unwanted damage to your phone, My Broadband advises that you rather stick to a basic mixture of soap and water., that way oleophobic and hydrophobic coatings are not at risk of damage.