How Good Hygiene and Rely+On® Virkon® Can Help

After a relatively calm summer, the UK has seen a steady rise in COVID-19 cases during September and October. According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), hospital admissions linked to COVID-19 increased from 1.9 to 2.05 per 100,000 people in early September, marking the highest level since spring. (Source: GOV.UK, National Flu and COVID-19 Surveillance Report, Week 37, 2025)

Experts suggest this uptick is being driven by new Omicron subvariants known as Nimbus and Stratus, combined with waning immunity and the seasonal shift back to indoor activity.

Dr. Mary Ramsay, Director of Public Health Programmes at UKHSA, recently advised the public to “take sensible precautions” such as vaccination, ventilation, and staying home when unwell. She also emphasised that simple hygiene measures, including regular cleaning and disinfection, continue to play a vital role in controlling transmission. (Source: UKHSA, COVID-19 Surveillance Briefing, September 2025)

Why Disinfection Still Matters

COVID-19 spreads primarily through airborne droplets, but surface contamination remains a concern, especially in busy environments like offices, schools, and healthcare settings. The virus can survive on hard surfaces for hours, sometimes even days, depending on conditions. Touching contaminated surfaces and then the face can still lead to infection, according to research from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC, “Modes of Transmission of SARS-CoV-2,” 2024).

While air quality and vaccination are critical, effective surface disinfection provides another essential barrier. This is especially important during periods of increased transmission, when many people share enclosed spaces with limited ventilation.

How Rely+On® Virkon® Helps

Rely+On® Virkon®, supplied in the UK by Day-Impex Ltd, is a broad-spectrum disinfectant that has been independently tested and shown to inactivate a wide range of viruses, including coronaviruses. Its active ingredient, potassium monopersulphate, works by oxidising and breaking down the virus’s protective outer layer, rendering it inactive. (Source: LANXESS Technical Data Sheet, Rely+On® Virkon® Virucidal Efficacy Summary, 2023)

Unlike some harsh bleach-based products, Rely+On® Virkon® is suitable for a variety of surfaces found in hospitals, offices, schools, and public transport. It is effective even in the presence of organic matter, which can otherwise shield viruses from disinfectants. (Source: Day-Impex Ltd Product Information, 2024)

When used correctly, it offers reliable protection for high-touch areas such as door handles, light switches, keyboards, and shared work surfaces.

Practical Use in COVID-19 Prevention

During this latest rise in cases, regular cleaning and disinfection can help reduce viral spread. The following practices are recommended:

1. Identify and prioritise high-touch areas - door handles, desks, taps, handrails, phones, and lift buttons.
2. Pre-clean surfaces to remove visible dirt before applying the disinfectant.
3. Use Rely+On® Virkon® at the correct dilution as instructed by the manufacturer, ensuring full surface coverage.
4. Allow sufficient contact time for the disinfectant to work - typically several minutes, depending on surface and temperature.
5. Train cleaning staff in correct preparation and handling, using gloves and eye protection when appropriate.
6. Increase cleaning frequency during outbreaks or when case numbers are high in the local community.

UKHSA guidance continues to support these kinds of environmental controls as part of a “layered approach” to infection prevention, alongside vaccination, good ventilation, and staying home when symptomatic. (Source: UKHSA COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Guidance, updated 2025)

The Bigger Picture

While no disinfectant can stop airborne transmission, regular and thorough cleaning helps break secondary transmission routes, reducing the likelihood of infection from contaminated surfaces.

As COVID-19 cases climb again across the UK, particularly with the emergence of new variants, maintaining strong hygiene protocols is essential. Using a proven virucidal disinfectant such as Rely+On® Virkon® - supplied by Day-Impex Ltd - adds a robust layer of defence to help protect workplaces, public buildings, and care environments this autumn.

By combining vaccination, good ventilation, responsible behaviour, and effective disinfection, communities can slow the seasonal spread and keep people safer as winter approaches.

(Sources: GOV.UK; UKHSA Surveillance Reports 2025; The Sun, October 2025; The Week, “The new Stratus Covid strain – and why it’s on the rise,” September 2025; ECDC, “Modes of Transmission of SARS-CoV-2,” 2024; LANXESS Rely+On® Virkon® Technical Summary, 2023; Day-Impex Ltd Product Sheet, 2024)