How persistent is the SARS-CoV-2 virus on different surfaces?
Summary:
- SARS-CoV-2 can stay up to 72 hours on the surface it has contact with.
- The expected time can be shorter, depending on the initial amount of the virus, and the material of the surface.
- Frequently washing or disinfecting your hands is crucial to stopping the transfer of the virus.
COVID-19 is still a growing problem worldwide, as just yesterday (15.04.2020) there were almost 4000 registered new deaths in Europe alone [1]. This means that we still have to proceed with caution and follow official guidelines.
SARS-CoV-2 is mainly transmitted through droplets containing the virus generated by an infected person [2]. These droplets are generated mostly when sneezing and coughing. Hence, we can get infected from the aforementioned droplets traveling through the air, but also through contact with surfaces on which they landed.
Naturally, the question arises about the persistence of the virus on various surfaces. Fortunately, a team led by Neeltje van Doremalen tackled this problem in their study [3]. They performed experiments to examine the viability of the SARS-CoV-2 virus when applied to different surfaces which we approach on a daily basis. The research was performed in 21 to 23 °C and 40% relative humidity, which makes it comparable with the usual indoor environment:
- Plastic up to 72 hours
- Stainless steel up to 48 hours
- Cardboard up to 24 hours
- Copper up to 4 hours
Of course, it is important to note that the time may vary depending on the original amount of the virus present on the contaminated surface. That means that the time required for the infected surface to be “safe” might be shorter. As it is crucial in the spreading of the SARS-CoV-2, the group of Neeltje van Doremalen also measured the half-life of the virus on different surfaces, which is the time needed for half of the amount of the virus to decay. As expected, the order of persistence of the virus remains the same:
- Plastic 6.81 hours
- Stainless steel 5.63 hours
- Cardboard 3.46 hours
- Copper 0.77 hours
These results show us how important it is to follow official guidelines, wash or disinfect our hands as often as possible, and avoid touching our faces when we are outside [2].
References:
- WHO, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report – 86. 2020, World Health Organization.
- WHO, Water, sanitation, hygiene, and waste management for the COVID-19 virus. 2020, World Health Organization.
- van Doremalen, N., et al., Aerosol and Surface Stability of SARS-CoV-2 as Compared with SARS-CoV-1. N Engl J Med, 2020.