Virus That Causes Covid-19 Can Survive Up To 28 Days On Surfaces, Scientists Find

[appalachiablue]

Source: The Guardian

Australian scientists have found that the virus that causes Covid-19 can survive for up to 28 days on surfaces such as the glass on mobile phones, stainless steel, vinyl and paper banknotes.

The national science agency, the CSIRO, said the research undertaken at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) in Geelong also found that Sars-CoV-2 survived longer at lower temperatures.

It said in a statement the virus survived longer on paper banknotes than on plastic banknotes and lasted longer on smooth surfaces rather than porous surfaces such as cotton. The research, published in the Virology Journal, also found the virus lasted 10 days longer than influenza on some surfaces.

Dr Larry Marshall, the chief executive of the CSIRO, said establishing how long the virus survived on surfaces enabled scientists to more accurately predict and prevent its spread, and so protect the community from infection. The deputy director of ACDP, Dr Debbie Eagles, said the results reinforced the need for good practices such as regular hand washing and cleaning surfaces...



Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/12/virus-that-causes-covid-19-can-survive-up-to-28-days-on-surfaces-scientists-find

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"At 20C, which is about room temperature, we found that the virus was extremely robust, surviving for 28 days on smooth surfaces such as glass found on mobile phone screens."

Influenza A was found to survive on surfaces for 17 days in similar experiments.
____________

*More: 'Covid virus 'survives for 28 days' in lab conditions', BBC News
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-54500673



- These results highlight the need to wash hands as well as touchscreens.

[Bayard]

1. For crying out loud!

Make up your minds already! Last I heard, they had decided it didn't last very long on surfaces now. I had stopped spraying every grocery item down with lysol (which will not be available again till the middle of next year).

[appalachiablue]

3. Wild I know. Lotsa rubbing alcohol in spray bottles works & is cheap.

BBC News:

..What does the study say?

Previous laboratory tests have found that SARS-Cov-2 can survive for two to three days on bank notes and glass, and up to six days on plastic and stainless steel, although results vary.

However, the research from Australian agency CSIRO found the virus was "extremely robust," surviving for 28 days on smooth surfaces such as glass found on mobile phone screens and both plastic and paper banknotes, when kept at 20C (68F), which is about room temperature, and in the dark.

In comparison, the flu virus can survive in the same circumstances for 17 days.

The study, published in Virology Journal, also found SARS-Cov-2 survived for less time at hotter temperatures than cooler temperatures; it stopped being infectious within 24 hours at 40C on some surfaces.

It also stayed longer on smooth, non-porous surfaces than on porous materials such as cloth, which was found not to carry any infectious virus past 14 days.

[NorthOf270]

25. A lot of this is under "ideal conditions"

I still spray my work area quite a bit.

[Warpy]

30. "UNDER LABORATORY CONDITIONS"

Real all the words, people. The virus is only that hardy under carefully controlled temperature and humidity. Out in the real world, the half life is considerably shorter.

I guess everybody loves a scary headline.

[IronLionZion]

2. The good thing is this virus is very easy to kill on surfaces

Soap completely destroys it. So if hoarders are buying up all the Lysol and Clorox again, we can always use the many cleaning products out there containing surfactants, which are soaps.

Disinfecting wipes are widely available now at least here in DC where I live. So I've been using those to clean my phone, credit cards, keys, doorknobs, light switches, etc. I never trusted the UV lamps to work correctly so I didn't buy a product like phone soap.

While vinegar doesn't kill SARS-COV-2, I would rather use that to wash produce instead of harmful chemicals. I use a small colander for berries. You could always just cook everything and avoid raw produce until this pandemic is over.

CDC recommends just water for rinsing produce:
https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/communication/steps-healthy-fruits-veggies.html

[appalachiablue]

4. Rubbing alcohol in spray bottles, inexpensive & effective. Soaps too.

[IronLionZion]

6. Rubbing alcohol is good for phones and electronics since it dries quickly

soap is the best choice for hands and many other surfaces.

[appalachiablue]

7. I use an aloe vera lotion w alcohol mix for hands & skin

and mostly rubbing alcohol spray for the rest of surfaces- paper, plastic, counter tops, doors, store containers, mail, etc.

I gave up on the hunt for and general use of Lysol, it's harder to find and doesn't go as far for me.

[FarPoint]

17. It is a challenge now to get isopropyl alcohol....

Check the alcohol %....you definitely want over 70%.... I prefer 90%....the price gouging is rampant.

[Midnight Writer]

5. Quick! Call Mike Pence! He can get his task force to work out a plan to deal with this!

[ancianita]

8. Here's the chart that reflects the findings. Looks like the colder it is, the longer it lasts.

https://scitechdaily.com/how-long-the-covid-19-virus-lasts-on-surfaces-new-research-on-sars-cov-2-survivability/

[appalachiablue]

10. Tx. More reason not to keep one's home at meat locker temps. Go toasty.

..(More from Chart) Further experiments were carried out at 30 and 40 degrees Celsius, with survival times decreasing as the temperature increased.

The study was also carried out in the dark, to remove the effect of UV light as research has demonstrated direct sunlight can rapidly inactivate the virus.

“While the precise role of surface transmission, the degree of surface contact and the amount of virus required for infection is yet to be determined, establishing how long this virus remains viable on surfaces is critical for developing risk mitigation strategies in high contact areas,” Dr. Eagles said.

Director of ACDP Professor Trevor Drew said many viruses remained viable on surfaces outside their host.

“How long they can survive and remain infectious depends on the type of virus, quantity, the surface, environmental conditions and how it’s deposited — for example touch vs droplets emitted by coughing,” Professor Drew said.

“Proteins and fats in body fluids can also significantly increase virus survival times.

“The research may also help to explain the apparent persistence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 in cool environments with high lipid or protein contamination, such as meat processing facilities and how we might better address that risk.”

[Liberty Belle]

13. True, but nearly all the cases have been traced to known exposure to others with COVID,

I've read elsewhere, so the thinking is that it doesn't spread that easily through briefly touching things. It does spread easily through coughing, singing, shouting, sneezing, talking etc especially indoors over prolonged periods. Those things are all bigger risks than touching a surface with COVID.

That said, carrying hand sanitizer to use frequently, as well as washing hands with soap often, are wise steps to take. I sanitize my hands every time I get in or out of my car, and also carry some in my purse to use as needed. But I don't scrub down groceries or avoid touching mail; just wash hands after handling those things.

[thesquanderer]

23. The key is breathing it. It CAN spread by touching things IF you then bring your hand to your face.

Bringing your hand to your face is how it gets from the surface you touched into your lungs. That's why the hand washing is so important.

At least that's my understanding.

[FarPoint]

18. Excellent chart....

[ancianita]

21. ...

we gotta stay safe!

[TeamPooka]

19. so the colder it gets the longer it lasts. Winter is going to be a bitch this year.

I'm very glad I live in California, by the coast.
It's pretty nice here year round but I worry for the rest of the country and my hometown friends in Connecticut.

[IronLionZion]

20. This will all be over by summer

As cases spiked across the warm sun belt this summer, we might see cases spike across the cold north this winter if people don't continue to social distance and wear masks.

[TreasonousBastard]

9. Don't give a shit about phones and credit cards because they don't get touched by anyone else...

But CASH! THREE FUCKING WEEKS!

Now I gotta whip out the plastic at the dollar store, or 7-11 for a cup of coffee?

[appalachiablue]

11. Quite a change I know. It took long enuff to come out w this.

[SunSeeker]

15. That's why coins have stopped circulating, causing a coin shortage.

The number of people using cash has dropped because of Covid-19.

[NorthOf270]

26. I'm no longer using cash

Haven't touched a bill in months.

[SunSeeker]

14. Fuck.

[LittleGirl]

16. That's what I said! eom

[BlueStater]

22. Is there anything this damn thing can't do?

Unbelievable. Ugh.

[NYC Liberal]

24. Done in complete darkness at a constant, unchanging temperature.

I’m skeptical that this is applicable to the real-world.

Wipe down high-contact surfaces before you touch.

[BainsBane]

27. Transmission is another matter

From the article:

There is also significant uncertainty about exactly how large surfaces play into the transmission of the virus.

“[The study] shows you that virus can persist … but if you ask me in the total scheme of things how important I think hands are compared to being close to people who are sick and getting it, I would say 90% of the problem and the transmission is related to being close to people who cough over you or sneeze over you or send you droplets. Probably around 10% of transmission is likely to be just hands and surfaces,” Collignon said.

[Bayard]

28. Mr. Bayard came home from the grocery today

And said--I have a present for you. He then theatrically produced 2 cans of Lysol spray. The stores have been out of it around here for months.

[appalachiablue]

29. Lucky you, what a dear. Months ago I got tired of looking

for Lysol and started using rubbing alcohol to disinfect almost everything. I order it from Amazon, so far so good.

Treasure those spray cans.