COVID-Safe Awareness and Implications for Environmental Surface Testing in Australia

Overall, respondents thought that businesses should be able to document they are COVID-safe and that their indoor surfaces are not SARS-CoV-2 contaminated (79.3%); while users of childcare or schools would feel reassured if the service could promote that their cleaning protocols were validated with PCR swab data (43.6%). The top 10 business types that were considered to need this service were: gyms > hospitality > hotels > public transport > allied health and beauty > aged care > disability services > childcare > air travel/cruises > shops and general retail. In conclusion there was very positive support for workplace testing using molecular biology methods like quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) environmental surface swabs.