The new coronavirus may remain infectious for weeks on banknotes, glass and other common surfaces, according to research by Australia\u2019s top biosecurity laboratory that highlights risks from paper currency, touchscreen devices and grab handles and rails.<\/p>\n
Scientists at the\u00a0Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness\u00a0showed SARS-CoV-2 is \u201cextremely robust,\u201d surviving for 28 days on smooth surfaces such as glass found on mobile phone screens and plastic banknotes at room temperature, or 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit).<\/p>\n
That compares with 17 days survival for the flu virus.<\/p>\n
Virus survival declined to less than a day at 40 degrees Celsius on some surfaces, according to the study, published in\u00a0Virology Journal.<\/p>\n
The findings add to evidence that the Covid-19-causing coronavirus survives for longer in\u00a0cooler\u00a0weather, making it potentially harder to control in winter than summer.<\/p>\n
The research also helps to more accurately predict and mitigate the pandemic\u2019s spread, the scientists said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur results show that SARS-CoV-2 can remain infectious on surfaces for long periods of time, reinforcing the need for good practices such as regular hand washing and cleaning surfaces,\u201d said co-author Debbie Eagles, the center\u2019s deputy director, in an emailed statement Monday.<\/p>\n
The coronavirus is transmitted mostly through\u00a0direct contact\u00a0with an infected person, especially the virus-laden particles they emit while coughing, sneezing, speaking, singing and even breathing.<\/p>\n
SARS-CoV-2 may also contaminate surfaces when these particles settle, creating so-called fomites that the researchers said may play a lesser, though important role in transmission of the virus.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt does raise some critical issues around the need to keep on disinfecting surfaces, even when community cases are low,\u201d said\u00a0Trevor Drew, the center\u2019s director and another co-author, in an interview.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe still need to carry out those disinfection regimes, both personally and at a public level, even when there don\u2019t seem to be any cases around because there
\nmay well be some residual virus that you\u2019ve missed.\u201d<\/p>\n
SARS-CoV-2 spread via fomites is plausible, researchers at Kansas State University said in a\u00a0study\u00a0released ahead of publication and peer review in August.<\/p>\n
They analyzed the coronavirus\u2019s stability on a dozen surfaces and found it survived five-to-seven times longer under cooler, less-humid spring\/fall conditions compared with the average temperature and humidity in summer.<\/p>\n
\u2018Big surprise\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n The finding bodes badly for controlling Covid-19 during the Northern Hemisphere winter, said virologist Juergen Richt, who led the research. \u201cIf we couldn\u2019t control it very well during the summer, we are in for a big surprise,\u201d Richt said in an interview.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we couldn’t control it very well during the summer, we are in for a big surprise.\u201d<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how the #coronavirus<\/a> will be different in winter, according to @KState<\/a> virologist Juergen Richt, who tested #Covid19<\/a> on different surfaces. More @business<\/a>: https:\/\/t.co\/yJCWECcIKN<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/mWNCxI7ToO<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Bloomberg QuickTake (@QuickTake) September 18, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n