By Sonali Paul and Stefica Nicole Biko
MELBOURNE / SYDNEY (Reuters) – The virus that causes covid-19 can last longer on banknotes, glass and stainless steel than the flu virus, Australian researchers said on Monday, highlighting the need for cleaning and handwashing. To fight.
The findings of a study by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, show that the virus has been infecting in a highly controlled environment for longer than other studies.
CSIRO researchers found that at 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit), the SARS-COV-2 virus was found for 28 days on a smooth surface such as plastic notes and glass found on mobile phone screens. The study was published in the journal Virology.
By comparison, influenza A virus has been found to survive on the surface for up to 17 days.
“It really reinforces the importance of hand washing and hygiene wherever possible and the importance of precisely erasing surfaces exposed to the virus,” said Shane Ridley, the study’s lead researcher.
The study involved drying the virus in artificial mucus over a range of surfaces at the same concentration of samples of Covid-19 patients and then retrieving the virus within a month.
20, 30 and 40 સે C. Experiments on have shown that the virus survives longer in cold temperatures, on a smoother surface than on a complex surface like cotton, and on a paper note longer than a plastic note.
“So moving to summer will definitely be an important factor that the virus won’t last long in warmer temperatures,” Riddale said, referring to the upcoming Southern Hemisphere summer.
All experiments were performed in the dark to eliminate the effects of ultraviolet light, as research shows that direct sunlight can kill the virus.
“So the real-world results will probably be shorter than what we were able to show,” Ridley told Reuters.
The researchers said that proteins and fats in body fluids can also drastically increase the survival time of viruses, and their study could help explain the apparent fluidity and spread of the virus in cold environments such as meat-packing facilities.
With about 27,000 infections and 898 deaths in a population of 250 million, Australia has outperformed most other rich nations in the fight against Covid-19.
The state of Victoria, the epicenter of the country’s second wave of infections, reported 15 new cases on Monday, a disgrace to less than five targets set by the government to ease a severe lockdown in the state capital Melbourne.
New South Wales, the most populous state, reported six new cases Monday, five of which were returned by different tourists.
(Reporting by Sonali Paul and Stefica Nicole Biko; Editing by Stephen Coates)
