Under laboratory conditions, the virus could still be detected on bank cards or cell phone displays almost a month later.
On smooth surfaces such as cell phone displays and ATMs, the corona virus can survive up to 28 days under certain laboratory conditions. This is what the Australian science authority Csiro writes in the journal “Virology Journal”. The experiment was carried out in the dark, as direct sunlight can kill the virus quickly, according to studies. The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) states that it is not aware of any corona infections via surfaces such as card terminals and smartphones.
“At 20 degrees Celsius, about room temperature, we found that the virus is extremely robust and survives for 28 days on smooth surfaces such as glass on cell phone screens and plastic banknotes,” said Debbie Eagles, deputy director of the Australian Centre for Disease Prevention, which conducted the research.
No relevant infections detected
In earlier studies, the corona virus could only be detected for up to three days on plastic and stainless steel surfaces. Similar experiments for influenza A had shown that this virus survived for 17 days on surfaces.
According to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), however, there have not yet been any cases in which it has been proven that the coronavirus was transmitted to humans through contact with contaminated objects and surfaces and that infections occurred. However, according to the information provided, smear infections on surfaces that were recently contaminated with viruses cannot be ruled out.
Wash your hands!
According to the Australian study, the virus survived longer on smooth surfaces such as glass, stainless steel and vinyl compared to composite, porous surfaces such as cotton. An important finding was the lifespan of the virus on glass. ATMs, self-service checkouts in supermarkets and check-in machines at airports have surfaces that are frequently touched and may not be cleaned regularly. Therefore, the rule still applies: Wash hands frequently and clean surfaces.
— Hector Pascua, Source: futurezone.at. Pictures: @CSIRO and stockilyapp.com
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