The Coronavirus can Thrive in Multiple Surfaces for at least three hours, Says New Study

(Photo : Stocksnap)

The deadly novel coronavirus is fast-spreading in the different parts of the world. The dangerous virus can live in the air for three hours, says a finding by scientists, says a recent article. Also, the researchers from the United States government who collaborated with other experts, discovered that the coronavirus can survive in certain surfaces for three days.

Also read: How to Find Out if You are Positive for the Novel Coronavirus

Survival in Certain Surfaces

Some tests revealed the novel coronavirus can survive for up to four hours in copper. When cardboard gets the deadly virus on its surface, it lasts for one day. Additionally, when the novel coronavirus gets on a surface of plastic and steel materials, it can survive up to 72 hours (three days).

Release of the Results of the Study

This study was made after the World Health Organization had announced its declaration of the global coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic.

Fears from the virus had surfaced involving its duration of survival on different types of surfaces. These fears had been present since the outbreak started in Wuhan, China in 2019.

Warning from Medical Professionals

The chief medical officer of the UK had released a warning statement to people. The statement includes a warning to avoid touching or being in physical contact with contaminated surfaced.

According to Prof. Chris Whitty, the deadly coronavirus can remain contagious on plastic and hard metal surfaces. These surfaces include handrails and door handles for up to three days.

How the Virus Spreads

Some medical professionals suggested the dangerous coronavirus has a high chance to spread on the hand that through the air when someone breathes, sneezes, or coughs.

The Unpublished Study

The recent study is not yet published in a journal before it reached online media platforms. This means that the study was not yet subjected to peer reviews which helps add evidence.

Authorities from different parts of the world had piloted different hard-hitting initiatives to urge the public to regularly wash their hands to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

How the New Study was Conducted

The new study was not the first to discover the dangerous novel coronavirus can live on different types of surfaces.

The team of the study made use of a nebulizer device to input samples of the coronavirus into the air. This experiment imitates the action of coughing when the deadly novel coronavirus gets airborne.

Similar Results from a Different Study

The results obtained from this new study had revealed similar findings conducted on the similarly-dangerous virus that caused the 2003 SARS outbreak.

Posting the Findings of the New Study in a Website

Currently, the discoveries from the new study are posted on a website. On the website, the findings can be reviewed by other specialists. This allows their researched findings to be shared widely to the public before its publication.

Additional Information about the New Study

The experiment was conducted at the National Institutes of Health's Rocky Mountain Lab located at Hamilton, Montana.

The experiment involved specialists from the University of California, Princeton University, and NIH. It was funded by the government of the United States.