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How Long Does the Coronavirus Stay Alive on Surfaces?

The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 mainly spreads from person to person in most of the cases. When someone who is infected coughs,  sneezes or even speaks, they can send droplets containing the virus into the air. A healthy person can then breathe in those droplets and get infected. You can also catch the virus if you touch a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touch your mouth, nose, or eyes. As the virus enters your body through these organs, it spreads to the back of the nasal passage and to mucous membranes in the throat, attaching to the body’s cell receptors.
The coronavirus can live for hours to days on surfaces like doorknobs, glassdoor, granite, etc. How long it survives depends on the material the surface is formed from. Here’s a guide to how long coronaviruses — the family of viruses that has the one that causes COVID-19 — can survive a number of the surfaces you almost certainly touch on a day today.
Porous surfaces allow air and water to pass through it. Subsequently, it makes them much less likely to hold infectious volumes of the virus compared to non-porous objects.

Coronavirus Stay Alive on

Wood
Examples: furniture, decking
4 days

Examples: packaging like milk containers or packets, detergent bottles, elevator buttons
2 to 3 days

Stainless steel
Examples: refrigerators, pots and pans, sinks, some water bottles
2 to 3 days

Cardboard
Examples: shipping boxes
24 hours

Copper
Examples: pennies, teakettles, cookware
4 hours

Aluminum
Examples: soda cans, tin foil, water bottles
2 to 8 hours

Glass
Examples: drinking glasses, measuring cups, mirrors, windows
Up to 5 days

Ceramics
Examples: dishes, pottery, mugs
5 days

Paper
Some strains of coronavirus live for only a few minutes on paper, while others live for up to 5 days.

Water

Coronavirus hasn’t been found in drinking water.

Coronaviruses can live on a variety of other surfaces, like fabrics and countertops.

Researchers have confirmed that the virus does degrade over time, reducing the likelihood of infection the longer contaminated droplets have sat on a surface, but you should still avoid touching handles, buttons and other objects in public spaces. If unavoidable, you should avoid touching your face. Till you have thoroughly washed your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.

What You Can Do To Reduce Your Chance of Getting Contaminated

To reduce your chance of catching or spreading coronavirus, clean and disinfect all surfaces and objects in your home and office every day. This includes:

  • Countertops
  • Tables
  • Doorknobs
  • Bathroom fixtures
  • Phones
  • Keyboards
  • Mouse
  • Remote controls
  • Toilets

Use a household cleaning spray or wipe. If the surfaces are dirty, clean them first with soap and water and then disinfect them.

Keep surfaces clean, even if everyone in your house is healthy. People who are infected may not show symptoms, but they can still spread the virus onto surfaces.

After you visit the medical store or supermarket, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm

Also Read:

How Can We Avoid Coronavirus Infection

Nubellocare is a blog run by Nubello Aesthetics Healthcare clinic for skincare, haircare, weight loss, and cosmetics surgery.

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