South Georgia Technical College partners with local company to treat campus for microorganisms
Americus to treat its campuses with an antimicrobial fog to help eliminate or slow the spread of any microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoans, fungi, mold, or mildew.
This is an added precaution undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic by South Georgia Tech to insure the health and safety of faculty, staff, students, and visitors once they are able to return to campus.
“There is no guarantee that this will eliminate the COVID-19 virus, but we believe that this is a step in the right direction,” said President Watford. “This is the perfect time to ‘fog’ the campus while faculty and staff are teleworking and students are adjusting to classes using distance learning and on-line instructional methods.”
S & S Total Floor Care and Restoration specializes in 24-hour water, flood, and smoke restoration that includes initial cleanup to final restoration for residential and commercial clients. They also offer janitorial services.
“S & S was working on a project on the Americus campus and asked us if we would be interested in having them experiment with the fogging system,” said South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford. “Our maintenance and custodial staff have been exercising extra diligence in cleaning and sanitizing the commons areas in the buildings. The fogging is just an extra layer of protection or cleaning for the faculty, staff, students, and visitors or guests when they eventually return to our campuses.”
Jay Hilliard, Steve Wurtz and their staff at S & S started fogging the Americus on-campus housing area first. “We are fogging the rooms, restrooms, and hallways and any furniture or counters in those areas. The purpose of the fogging is to create a mist and a fog with an antimicrobial solution that will settle on all the surfaces and kill any virus or bacteria that may still be active on those surfaces. The antimicrobial fog solution is designed to kill virus, mold, fungi, and bacteria,” said Hilliard.
With the fogging system, the workers are able to move quickly and efficiently through large areas of the campus. It is estimated that the COVID-19 virus can live up to two days on some surfaces. The fogging solution will help eliminate that threat on many of the surfaces that individuals may come in contact with.
South Georgia Technical College has extended the closure of its campuses and adult education sites through then end of Spring Semester in response to the COVID-19 health concerns. All students resumed classes April 1st utilizing some form of distance learning or online instruction. South Georgia Technical College faculty and staff are teleworking but the college does have individuals on campus securing the campus and performing essential duties.