TEMPO.CO, Melbourne – A research team in Australia found the cause of the corona virus Covid-19 can last on banknotes, smartphone glass screens, and stainless steel for up to 28 days. During that period, the virus is said to still be able to infect if there is physical contact with the surfaces of these objects or if they are inhaled through the respiratory tract.
Researchers from Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, discovered the ability of the virus in an ambient temperature of 20 degrees Celsius. In comparison, at the same temperature and environment, influenza A virus was found to survive for 17 days.
Published in Virology Journal, Monday, October 12, 2020, the results of the study highlight the importance of cleaning and washing hands to eradicate the virus corona Covid-19.
“Determining how long a virus actually remains on the surface of objects allows us to more accurately predict and reduce the spread of the virus and do a better job of protecting our communities,” said CSIRO Chief Executive Larry Marshall.
CSIRO’s research involved drying the virus in artificial mucus on various surfaces with concentrations similar to samples from Covid-19 patients. SARS-CoV-2, the name of the corona virus, was extracted after a month.
The experiments were carried out in a controlled laboratory environment at temperatures of 20, 30, and 40 degrees Celsius. The results prove that the ability of the virus to survive decreases with increasing temperature. Meanwhile, protein and fat in body fluids can significantly increase the duration of its survival.
“The research may also help explain the apparent viability of SARS-CoV-2 spread in cool environments with high protein and lipid contamination, such as meat processing facilities,” said Trevor Drew, Director of the Center for Disease Preparedness. Australia CSIRO.
Australia currently has reported a total of around 27,000 cases of Covid-19 infection, of which 898 died, among a population of around 25 million. The epicenter of the second wave of Covid-19 infections in Australia was found in the State of Victoria which reported 15 new cases on Monday.
The figure falls short of the target of under five cases set by the government to ease the tight lockdown in the capital Melbourne.
The publication of this research was not long ago from the results of research in Japan using human skin samples in the laboratory. From that research it was found that SARS-CoV-2 able to survive for 9 hours, and to 11 hours if covered by droplets.
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It also contrasts with an influenza A strain also used in the study. The flu virus A was found to survive on the same sample for only two hours. But, fortunately, the two types of corona virus, which live longer or shorter, are equally resistant to hand sanitizers.
In the early days of the pandemic Covid-19Researchers in the United States have also analyzed how long SARS-CoV-2 can survive on various surfaces. They found, for example, that the virus could live on copper for more than four hours, on cardboard for more than 24 hours, and on plastic and steel for more than 72 hours.
Source: Reuters
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