Users of musical equipment may be more susceptible to infections from instruments that are not cleaned and maintained properly, especially if they are shared school instruments. COVID-19 like, most viruses has a limited lifespan on hard surfaces. However, disinfecting an instrument to make it safe to handle will last longer and is easier to achieve.
Once an instrument is exposed to air or handled it is no longer sterile. Sterilization is limited in how long an instrument will remain sterile. There is a difference between sterilization and disinfection of music instruments. These guidelines are designed for use by music educators and educators may use these guidelines when teaching students and parents how to clean instruments. The NFHS, NAfME and the NAMM Foundation recommend the following guidelines for handling musical instruments during the COVID-19 school shutdown period.
