When a person contracts COVID 19 they begin shedding very large numbers of infectious viral particles from their respiratory tract. This happens when they breathe, talk, shout and of course, when the cough or sneeze. Whist these very tiny microscopic particles may remain airborne for some considerable time, they will eventually be drawn to settle downwards due to the effects of gravity. Therefore, the majority of these viral particles will end up on the floor and other horizontal surfaces. In the case of carpets and fabrics, they will harbour these potentially infectious viral particles either until they are transmitted else-where or they die naturally over a period of time. It is in this intervening period, between deposition and death that the carpet or fabric can harbour these highly contagious viral particles and thus act as a potential reservoir of infection.