It is important to protect yourself from germs as ever as no signs of the coronavirus pandemic letting up. It is confirmed that the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 mainly spreads from person to person through respiratory droplets in the air. Transmission from person to person is possible to happen through larger droplets from sneezes when coughs. And also there is growing evidence that smaller particles can live in the air longer and travel farther. These particles called aerosols and aerosols may also contribute to the person to person transmission.
In early 2020, scientists concerns over the coronavirus surviving on surfaces. With that researchers have found that the coronavirus can stay alive on some surfaces but in different time periods. A variety of studies are looking at how long the virus stays alive on a variety of surfaces. It is theoretically possible, but highly unlikely. Anyway, it is still unclear that this surface infection increases the chance of transmission. As per the doctor’s commitment, transmission from surfaces is much lower risk than person to person. A study done by the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) last April (2020), found that the new coronavirus can stay and survive on plastic and stainless steel for up to 3 days and on cardboard and such furniture for up to 1 day. Not only that, Another team from China showed that the virus can hang and travel on the shoe soles and can survive considerable time. This incident may assist to rush the shopping frenzy of disinfectant till left store shelves bare. Mostly for the disinfectants like hand sanitizer and cleaning wipes.
Healy care persons highlighted that, to transmit through surfaces, First, a Covid 19 infected patient who needs to get a large enough amount of the virus on a surface to cause infection. Then, the virus would need to survive until the next person touches that surface and get some on his or her hands. If that second person touches their eyes, nose, or mouth without washing your hands, you’d have to be infected. The chance of transmission through inanimate surfaces is comparatively very small, and only in incidents where an infected person coughs or sneezes on the surface, or touches that surface soon after they cough or sneeze within 1-2 hours without washing hands. There is a possibility of transmission through an elevator button, and contaminated medical equipment may have helped spread the virus. By the way, most studies and researches have only proved that the virus stays alive on surfaces and not that it can catch someone or something from touching those surfaces.
Most recent case studies documented that the coronavirus can live for hours to days on surfaces like countertops and doorknobs. The duration of surviving depends on the material the surface is made from. Still, the researchers around the world are conducting their studies to learn about the New coronavirus as still, the world has a lot of things to learn about the new coronavirus as this is new to the world. Anyway, people must have to be ready and should take the necessary steps to protect against the virus.
Here are the recent details of virus surviving time on different Kinds of Surfaces with Most possible examples.
Metal – doorknobs, jewelry, silverware
1 to 5 days
Wood – furniture, decking
2 to 4 days
Plastics – milk containers and detergent bottles, subway and bus seats, backpacks, elevator buttons
2 to 3 days
Stainless steel – refrigerators, pots and pans, sinks, some water bottles
2 to 3 days
Cardboard – shipping boxes
1 day
Copper – pennies, teakettles, cookware
1 to 4 hours
Aluminum – soda cans, tin foil, water bottles
2 to 8 hours
Glass – drinking glasses, measuring cups, mirrors, windows
2 to 5 days
Ceramics – dishes, pottery, mugs
5 days
Paper – mail, newspaper
1 hour to 5 days (depends on the material)
Fabrics and shoes
There’s not much research about how long the virus lives on fabric, but it’s probably not as long as on hard surfaces.
Fortunately, Coronavirus hasn’t been found in foods and drinking water. And also there’s no research yet on exactly confirmed how long the virus can live on your skin or hair. By using the correct health care tips such as washing hands regularly or using hand sanitizer, using face masks properly and etc.., people can protect themselves from this virus since it could be anywhere
