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The new coronavirus can remain infectious for weeks on banknotes, glass and other common surfaces, according to research from Australia’s leading biosafety laboratory that highlights the risks of paper money, touchscreen devices and handles and rails.
Scientists from the Australian Center for Disease Preparedness have shown that SARS-CoV-2 is “extremely robust”, surviving for 28 days on smooth surfaces such as glass found on cell phone screens and plastic banknotes. at room temperature, or 20 ° C (68 ° F). That compares with the 17-day survival for the flu virus.
Virus survival was reduced to less than a day at 40 ° C on some surfaces, according to the study, published Oct. 12 in Journal of Virology. The findings add to evidence that the coronavirus that causes Covid-19 survives longer in colder climates, making it potentially more difficult to control in winter than in summer. The research also helps more accurately predict and mitigate the spread of the pandemic, the scientists said.
“Our 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 surface cleaning,” said Debbie Eagles, deputy director of the center. , in an emailed statement. .
The coronavirus is mainly transmitted through direct contact with an infected person, especially the virus-laden particles that they emit when coughing, sneezing, talking, singing and even breathing. SARS-CoV-2 can also contaminate surfaces when these particles settle, creating so-called fomites that, according to the researchers, “may also be an important factor in the transmission of the virus.”
Although unproven, the spread of SARS-CoV-2 through fomites is plausible, Kansas State University researchers said in a study published ahead of publication and peer review in August. They analyzed the stability of the coronavirus on a dozen surfaces and found that it survived five to seven times in cooler and less humid spring / fall conditions compared to the average temperature and humidity in summer. The finding bodes ill for Covid-19 control during the northern hemisphere winter, said virologist Juergen Richt, who led the research.
‘Big surprise’
“If we couldn’t control it very well during the summer, we’re in for a big surprise,” Richt said in an interview.
The Australian government laboratory scientist found that the coronavirus tended to survive longer on smooth or non-porous surfaces, compared to complex porous surfaces such as cotton.
The research received funding from the Australian Department of Defense. It involved drying the coronavirus in an artificial mucus on different surfaces, at concentrations similar to those reported in samples from infected patients, and then re-isolating the virus for a month. The study was also conducted in the dark, to eliminate the effect of ultraviolet light, as research has shown that direct sunlight can rapidly inactivate the virus.
“While the precise role of surface transmission, the degree of surface contact, and the amount of virus required for infection have yet to be determined, establishing how long this virus remains viable on surfaces is critical to developing risk mitigation strategies. in high contact areas “. Eagles said.
Transmission risk
Persistence in glass is an important finding, as touch screen devices such as mobile phones, bank ATMs, supermarket checkouts, and airport check-in kiosks are high-touch surfaces that may not be cleaned regularly and, therefore, they represent a risk of SARS transmission. -CoV-2, the researchers said in the article.
They found that the longer survival time of SARS-CoV-2 than seasonal flu in banknotes “is of particular importance, considering the frequency of circulation and the potential for transfer of viable viruses both between individuals and between geographic locations.” .
Before SARS-CoV-2 was declared a pandemic, China had begun to decontaminate its paper money, suggesting that there were concerns about transmission via paper notes at the time, the researchers said, noting that the United States and South Korea have also quarantined banknotes as a result. of the pandemic.
Survival of the coronavirus in stainless steel at colder temperatures may help explain the Covid-19 outbreaks related to meat processing and cold storage facilities, the authors said. Their data supports the findings of a study showing the survival of SARS-CoV-2 also in fresh and frozen foods, they said.
“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,” Trevor Drew, Director from the Australian Center for Disease Preparedness, said in the statement. – Bloomberg
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