  Contaminated objects or surfaces, referred to as fomites, play a critical
role in the spread of viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for
the COVID-19 pandemic. The long persistence of viruses (hours to days) on
surfaces calls for an urgent need for surface disinfection strategies to
intercept virus transmission and the spread of the disease. Elucidating the
physicochemical processes and surface science underlying the adsorption and
transfer of virus between surfaces, as well as their inactivation, are
important in understanding how the disease is transmitted, and in developing
effective interception strategies. This review aims to summarize the current
knowledge and underlying physicochemical processes of virus transmission, in
particular via fomites, and common disinfection approaches. Gaps in knowledge
and needs for further research are also identified. The review focuses on
SARS-CoV-2, but will supplement the discussions with related viruses.
