When Mercer students returned to campus during and following the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, safety was a top priority, and everyone was expected to mask up and socially distance. But one challenge remained harder to control: high-touch surfaces.
Starting in 2020, federal relief funds were provided to colleges through the CARES Act to help get students back into classrooms. The funds could be used for a variety of purposes, including sanitation and hygiene.
Joshua Johnson, Director of Facilities and Maintenance at Mercer, says he and his team spent long hours applying adhesive strips, commonly known as “germ tape,” to door handles and shared surfaces around campus.
According to NeverGerms.com, the tape strips, known as “antimicrobial covers,” can reduce 99.9% of bacteria on high-touch surfaces. But there’s a catch—they must be replaced every six months to remain effective.
“We bought as much as we could afford using the COVID-19 relief money,” says Johnson.
He says they regularly replaced the tape every few months, following the product’s recommended lifespan.
MCCC kept up with replacement while funding lasted. According to the Mercer County Community College COVID-19 Fall 2021 Reopening Plan, when operations were back to normal, the school planned to restock COVID-related supplies. But as money ran out, germ tape fell lower on the priority list.
Today, five years after the pandemic began, Johnson is not installing the tape anymore. Instead, he is slowly peeling off the remains. The funding has run dry, and there is no budget to continue with the tape. The tape is now discolored and stripping away from the surfaces it was meant to protect.
According to Michael DeAngelis, an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator for Health Science at MCCC, “The tape would be highly effective if replaced regularly.”
Johnson agrees that what was once a solution is no longer effective, saying, “The efficiency is questionable.” However, he adds, “The janitors have strict disinfection protocols, which we trust to be enough.”
DeAngelis agrees that “routine disinfectant cleaning” is the best option.
But beyond the question of reduced effectiveness, there is also the issue of appearance.
DeAngelis says the tape’s current condition is “aesthetically not the best look.”
Henrik Reyes, a sophomore studying Business Administration, says he avoids touching the tape altogether.
“The condition of the tape makes me think it hasn’t been replaced since I got here two years ago,” Reyes says, adding, “I kick the door open if possible.”
