Coronavirus Lives On Surfaces For Days

A new study found the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is stable for several hours to days, in aerosols and on surfaces, according to a new study published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

This NIH study attempted to mimic the coronavirus being deposited from an infected person onto everyday surfaces in a household, such as through coughing or touching objects.

These scientists found that SARS-CoV-2 was detectable in aerosols for up to 3 hours, up to 4 hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard, and up to 3 days on plastic and stainless steel.

Announced on March 17, 2020, these results provide key information about the stability of SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19 disease, and suggests that people may acquire the virus through the air and after touching contaminated objects.

The NIH scientists, from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ Montana facility at Rocky Mountain Laboratories, compared how the environment affects SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-1, which causes SARS. SARS-CoV-1, like its successor now circulating across the globe, emerged from China and infected more than 8,000 people in 2002 and 2003.

SARS-CoV-1 was eradicated by intensive contact tracing and case isolation measures and no cases have been detected since 2004.

SARS-CoV-1 is the human coronavirus most closely related to SARS-CoV-2. In the stability study, the two viruses behaved similarly, which unfortunately fails to explain why COVID-19 has become a much larger outbreak.

The findings affirm the guidance from public health professionals to use precautions similar to those for influenza and other respiratory viruses, to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2.

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SARS-CoV-2 outbreak news published by Coronavirus Today.