Coronavirus can remain infectious in droplets in the air for hours, on some surfaces for up to days. This is confirmed by the findings of a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. But it is very unlikely that infection through a package or letter will be sent.
Coronavirus can remain infectious in droplets in the air for hours, on some surfaces for up to days. Scientists came to this conclusion thanks to a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Still, according to scientists, it is very unlikely that we will be infected, for example, through a letter or package.
Coronavirus is spread mainly by droplets, similar to flu or common colds. According to a recent scientific study, however, the virus survives for a relatively long time outside the host. In droplets in the air it can be viable for up to three hours, up to four on a copper surface, up to 24 hours on cardboard and two to three days on plastic or stainless steel.
"We are by no means saying that the virus is transmitted through the air via an infectious aerosol, but our work shows that under certain conditions it can be kept alive for a long time, so this is theoretically possible," said Neeltje van Doremalen, head of the US allergies and infectious diseases.
Scientists from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institute of Health, Princeton and the University of California, Los Angeles, have placed aerosols on various surfaces to simulate microscopic droplets resulting from coughing or sneezing an infected person.
The virus has been deployed on plastic, stainless steel, cardboard and copper, as it is a surface often present in human homes. Over time, virus viability decreased sharply. According to experts, there is no need to worry that the disease could spread, for example, from the ordered package or bag with imported food.
“The recently published study worked with ideal conditions and experimental situations. If someone, for example, coughed on a package or letter, the chance that the virus would remain viable for the duration of the transport seems extremely unlikely, ”said Yale University professor of medicine Joseph Vinetz. Primarily, the infection spreads from person to person, scientists say.
