Even though the new CDC study was conducted in a hospital ward full of coronavirus patients, experts say that people in a non-medical setting should also be mindful of their footwear. They recommend that people practice keeping their shoes away from other areas in the home.
Dr. Mary E. Schmidt, an associate professor of Clinical Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University, told Business Insider that the bottoms of shoes can be a troublesome place when it comes to spreading germs.
"My recommendation is that people pick one pair of shoes for errands that are easy to slip on and off and leave them at the front door," Schmidt said.
Public health specialist Carol Winner said that keeping worn shoes in a separate area of the home or in a basket by the door is a great way to isolate any germs that the shoes might be carrying.
"It's good practice to leave shoes by the door," Winner said, adding that keeping floors clean is also important, especially if there are small kids in the house who are likely to play on the floor.