One of the most frequent concerns for the population around the recently declared coronavirus pandemic (SARS-CoV-2) is how long the virus survives on surfaces. Until now, scientists could only make estimates, applying what we already knew about the behavior of similar viruses.
Asked about this question, the preventive doctor Daniel Orts considered Very Interesting that “it does not seem possible that the coronavirus survives more than 24 hours on surfaces such as doorknobs, keyboards and packages or letters sent from anywhere in the world.” But this estimate seems to have fallen short, in light of research published yesterday on the medRxiv website: according to the researchers’ conclusions, SARS-CoV-2 can live in the air for several hours; and on some surfaces, for two or three days .
However, and this is important: the work does not prove that anyone has been infected by breathing it from the air or by touching contaminated surfaces.
The scientists qualify it: ” In no way are we saying that there is airborne transmission of the virus , but this work shows that the virus remains viable for long periods under these conditions, so it is theoretically possible “, in the words of the study leader. Neeltje van Doremalen at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
For this study, the researchers used a nebulizer device to place samples of the new virus into the air, mimicking what might happen if an infected person coughs or sneezes, spreading the virus through the air. Thus, they discovered that the virus could be detected up to three hours later in air, four hours in copper, 24 hours in cardboard and up to two or three days in plastic and stainless steel.
Similarities to SARS
Since its appearance in China at the end of last year, SARS-CoV-2 (known simply as coronavirus or new coronavirus) has caused the death of 4,728 people; there are currently 128,392 affected worldwide and almost 70,000 recovered (confirmed data from CSSE John Hopkins). The ratio of people affected and deaths is much higher than the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS, a similar coronavirus) in 2003.
Results similar to those obtained in this new research were already obtained in similar tests for the virus that caused the SARS outbreak, so the differences in the durability of the viruses do not explain how much more the new virus has spread , the researchers say.
This research has been conducted by scientists from the United States National Institute of Health (NIH), Princeton University, and the University of California (UCLA), who conducted tests at the Rocky Mountain Laboratory of the National Institutes of Health in Hamilton with funding from the US government and the National Science Foundation. The work has not yet been reviewed by other scientists, but it is already available for consultation and to be shared with other entities.
Julie Fischer, Professor of Microbiology at Georgetown University, has said: “It is a solid piece of work that answers questions that people have been asking,” and shows the value and importance of the hygiene tips that they have been emphasizing. public health administrations. What we have to do is wash our hands, be aware that infected people may be contaminating the surfaces, and keep our hands away from our faces ”.
As for the best way to ‘kill’ the virus, it is a question that researchers continue to study but cleaning surfaces with solutions containing dilute chlorine is likely to remove it.
Reference:
Aerosol and surface stability of HCoV-19 (SARS-CoV-2) compared to SARS-CoV-1 , doi.org/10.1101/2020.03.09.20033217
