Research by Australian scientists has discovered that the SARS-CoV-2 virus causing Covid-19 can persist on a smooth surface for nearly a month, significantly longer than previous studies of the virus’s lifetime in the environment. This new finding reinforces information about the virus that is causing a global pandemic and may change preventive hygiene measures.
According to a new research result of Australian scientists published in the Journal of Virology today (October 12), SARS-CoV-2 virus can stay on smooth surfaces longer than the virus that causes flu. In this study, scientists from the Australian National Science Agency (CSIRO) found that Covid-19 virus can survive for 28 days on some surfaces such as phone screens, banknotes, and glass, stainless steel and plastic … Research has also shown that viruses can last 10 days longer than flu viruses on some surfaces and survive on banknotes longer than polymers.
Deputy director of the Australian Centers for Disease Control (ACDP), Ms. Debbie Eagles said, at 20 degrees Celsius, the SARS-CoV-2 virus is very active and can last for 28 days on smooth surfaces such as glass or cell phone screens. While also at this temperature, the virus causing the flu can only last 17 days. The experiments in this study also showed that the duration of the virus decreases as the ambient temperature increases.
The researchers argue that it is important to determine how long the virus stays on surfaces, helping develop risk reduction strategies in high-risk areas, better stop viruses from spreading and protect communities. Research results have further strengthened the scientific evidence that frequent hand washing and cleaning of surfaces will significantly contribute to preventing virus from spreading in communities.