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MELBOURNE, Oct 12 (Reuters) – The virus that causes COVID-19 can survive on banknotes, glass and stainless steel for up to 28 days, much longer than the flu virus, Australian researchers said on Monday, highlighting the need for cleanup and handwashing. to fight the virus.
By Sonali Paul
Researchers from Australia’s national scientific agency, CSIRO, found that at 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) the SARS-COV-2 virus remained infectious for 28 days on smooth surfaces such as plastic and glass banknotes found on computer screens. mobile phones. The study was published in the Virology Journal.
By comparison, influenza A virus has been found to survive on surfaces for 17 days.
CSIRO’s research involved drying the virus in artificial mucus on a variety of surfaces at concentrations similar to those of COVID-19 patient samples, and then extracting the virus after one month.
Experiments conducted in controlled laboratory environments at 20, 30 and 40 degrees C showed that survival time decreased as temperature increased.
“Establishing how long the virus truly remains viable on surfaces allows us to more accurately predict and mitigate its spread and do a better job of protecting our people,” CSIRO Chief Executive Larry Marshall said in a statement.
Proteins and fats in body fluids can also dramatically increase virus survival times.
“The research may also help explain the apparent persistence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 in cold environments with high lipid or protein contamination, such as meat processing facilities, and how we could better address that risk,” said Trevor Drew. , Director of the Australian Center for Disease Preparedness at CSIRO.
Australia has fared much better than most other wealthy nations in the fight against COVID-19, with a total of approximately 27,000 infections and 898 deaths in a population of 25 million.
The epicenter of the country’s second wave of infection, the state of Victoria, reported 15 new cases on Monday, well below the target of fewer than five the government has set to ease a tough lockdown in the state capital, Melbourne.
New South Wales, the most populous state, reported six new cases on Monday, five of which were travelers returned from quarantine. (Reporting by Sonali Paul; Editing by Stephen Coates)
