Coronavirus: Latest Study Reveals How Long Can The Virus Survive In The Air

Coronavirus belongs to a huge family of viruses that cause animals or humans to become ill. In the case of COVID-19, it is caused by a new strain of coronavirus which scientists name SARS-CoV-2. It is vital everyone understands this fact because it is the lack of knowledge that hampered the timely response of many countries around the world.

With the epicenter of the virus shifting from China into Europe, it has become more imperative for the government to know every single bit of information about the virus. On the part of health experts, they have been trying to find out as much as they can for authorities to launch an effective response to reduce casualties. Today, a recent study has revealed a new fact about the deadly coronavirus.

Lingering Questions About COVID-19

There are many uncertainties about the deadly coronavirus. While health experts say there is a strong possibility that transmission is through droplets, one lingering question is how long the virus can survive in the air.

This question needs to be answered as the success of government measures, such as social distancing, hugely depends on what scientists find out. The purpose of social distancing is minimizing the risk of virus exposure, which is why it is vital to find out how long the virus remains alive in the air.

A New Finding

A recent study conducted by scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' Laboratory of Virology revealed a new fact about the virus. The facility is a Division of Intramural Research in Hamilton, Montana.

To find out how long the virus will survive in the air, researchers used a nebulizer in blowing coronavirus into the air. The results astounded scientists. It showed that infectious viruses like the coronavirus could remain alive in the air for up to three hours. Scientists believe the results will have an impact on measures imposed by the government to curb the spread of the virus.

In other related and recent studies, researchers found that coronavirus can survive approximately four hours on copper material and 24 hours on cardboard. It can also remain alive on stainless steel and plastic anywhere between two and three days.

Scientists admit there is still a lot to know about the virus. Some of the things they want to know are how various conditions like exposure to heat or cold, and sunlight, can affect the survival rates of the virus. In the meantime, health experts recommend cleaning surfaces frequently using water and detergent to protect it from the virus. Washing your hands frequently is also an important measure that you need to observe to minimize your risk of catching the virus.