Young woman with face mask using mobile phone and buying groceries in the supermarket during virus pandemic.

Even with inoculation levels rising and the number of new COVID-19 cases declining nationwide, restaurants, retail, mass transit and other businesses are seeking ways to encourage employee and customer confidence about returning to public environments.

A recent study conducted for Texas-based CASPR Group by the research group MDRG worked to gauge the importance consumers place upon air and surface disinfection. The study looked at key consumers in office buildings, public transportation, and retail environments and found clear patterns emerged that affect a consumer’s willingness to engage. 

Several key findings emerged:

- Two thirds of respondents are more likely to patronize a restaurant with an air and surface disinfecting solution over others.

- Nearly 70 percent of public transportation users are willing to pay more for ticketing if air disinfection equipment is installed.

- Over half of respondents felt that air disinfection solutions would still be important following the COVID-19 pandemic.

- Once aware of the existence of air and surface disinfecting technologies, most respondents increased the importance of those technologies when compared to other options (masks, hand washing, social distancing, etc.)