Coronavirus Survival Can Last For Up To Three Days On Surfaces
Coronavirus survival can last for up to three days on some surfaces according to testing conducted by National Institutes of Health (NIH).
It can survive in the air for several hours and on some surfaces, such as metal and plastic, for up to three days.
Coronavirus Survival: Preliminary Findings
These results suggest that coronavirus can be transmitted through the air or by touching a contaminated surface.
Specifically, the scientists found that corona could be detected in aerosols up to 3 hours post spraying, and up to 4 hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to 2-3 days on plastic and stainless steel. That is a powerful virus.
Their study is ongoing and in current experiments, researchers are studying virus survivability in different areas, such as nasal secretion, saliva and fecal matter. In addition, survival in different temperatures and humidity are also being assessed.
You can contract the coronavirus just by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it. And then touch your mouth, nose, or eyes. But the key mode of transmission come from sneezes and coughs, (i.e.; respiratory droplets) when you’re within 6 feet of the infected person.
CDC recommendations
The CDC recommends that people protect themselves by washing their hands often. Also, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid close contact with people who are sick; and clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces. These include tables, doorknobs, countertops, phones, toilets, faucets and keyboards.