MELBOURNE, KOMPAS.com – Corona virus can last up to 28 days above the surface of the object, such as cell phones and ATM machines, longer than expected.
This conclusion was found by the Australian research institute CSIRO after testing how long the SARS-CoV-2 virus could survive on cotton, paper, stainless steel, glass and vinyl.
Launch ABC Indonesia on Tuesday (13/10/2020), Director of the Australian Center for Disease Preparation (ACDP) Trevor Drew said his research group used the same amount of virus found in sufferers. Covid-19.
“It’s important to know how long this virus lasts, so that we know how often to disinfect goods and what general risks it poses,” said Professor Drew.
He said the recent fact that the virus can survive for a very long time on surfaces made of glass is important to know.
The results were published yesterday (12/10/2020) in the “Virology Journal” or the Journal of Virus Science.
“Touch-screen devices such as mobile phones, bank ATM cards, self-service cash register screens in supermarkets and check-in kiosks are frequently touched surfaces, may be cleaned rarely, and pose a risk of transmission,” said Professor Drew.
Previous research has found that the virus that causes Covid-19 can survive in aerosols for up to 3 hours, then on surfaces made of stainless steel and plastic can last up to 3 days.
However, this latest discovery found that corona virus can survive on most surfaces for 6-7 days before starting to lose their infectious potential.
“What we found is that even after 2 weeks, there are still lots of live and infectious viruses that can attack a person,” said the professor.
“We can predict the possibility that tableware in restaurants has the potential to be a source of virus transmission because stainless steel is often used for eating,” he added.
On some surfaces, such as glass and banknotes, the virus can last up to 1 month.
The discovery surprised Debbie Eagles, deputy director of the Australian Center for Disease Preparation (ACDP).
“It looks like this virus can last longer than other viruses like influenza, which only lasts a few days, or even other coronaviruses,” he said.
Also read: Had Gradual Normal From Corona Virus, Now Malaysia PSBB Again
The possibility of contracting Covid-19 from touching the surface
However, experts still say that it is a possibility coronavirus transmission biggest is from direct contact, for example when someone around them sneezes or coughs.
On the other hand, a person can still be infected if they touch a surface contaminated with the corona virus before touching the face, nose or mouth, and possibly swallow the virus.
“This is why the use of wet wipes for disinfection and hand sanitization has an impact,” said Professor Drew.
“This discovery supports the ‘mantra’ which requires us to wash our hands, not touch surfaces unless we have to, and not touch our faces and mouths.”
Dr. Eagles said that if someone who has Covid-19 sneezes or coughs near a cell phone, the virus could stay there for a long time, if not cleaned properly.
“This also applies to eftpos machines and public transport, but transmission in both is greater than on cell phones, which only come into frequent contact with their owners,” said Eagles.
“We know that surfaces in public transportation as public facilities are cleaned frequently, and that effective cleaning can remove the virus,” he added.
Also read: Unfinished Corona Virus, China Now Attacked By Norovirus
Cold weather make viruses to live longer
Scientists are also testing impact temperature on virus resistance and found that the colder it was, the longer the virus could stay on the surface.
This means certain countries have the greatest likelihood of transmission in winter.
“We found that temperature has a very large impact on viruses, so if the temperature was in the range of 6 degrees Celsius, the life time of the virus could increase by 10 times,” said Professor Drew.
This discovery then also explains why the most Covid-19 transmissions are found in meat production facilities and cold storage rooms.
Several meat processing facilities and a meat shop in Australia were once the centers of the Covid-19 transmission.
In addition, there are also cases of unknown source of transmission in New Zealand and possibly from frozen food storage rooms.
Also read: Fauci’s Speech about Corona Virus Edited, Twisted in Trump’s Campaign Ad
Dr Eagles said that the chilly temperatures found in these workplaces may have been a factor in causing the clusters to appear.
“There are a number of factors that cause transmission in the meat factory,” said Eagles.
“For example, close contact, and maybe in some cases difficulty using personal protective equipment, or cold temperatures,” he said.
In warmer temperatures, such as 30 degrees Celsius, the chances of the virus surviving is much less.
Meanwhile, the virus can last longer in banknotes made of paper, compared to those made from polymers such as in Australia.
“It is very important that we clean and disinfect areas that are touched a lot, for example in public places, shops, eftpos machines,” said Dr Eagles.
“If it is cleaned properly, cleaning is an effective way,” he concluded.
Also read: Tells Scientists Fall in Love with Corona Virus, This Novel is Viral on Social Media
– .
