Coronavirus Update: Experts Reveal How Long The Virus Lives On Objects

Aside from not having found the right treatment, it was ascertained that the mere touching of a contaminated surface is enough to infect an otherwise healthy individual. The moment airborne water droplets coming from an infected person lands on a surface, that surface becomes a vehicle that can infect others.

Since the virus is so potent that it can easily contaminate a surface, health experts advise individuals to be conscientious in washing their hands. The most effective means is to wash hands with soap and water thoroughly. When these are unavailable, the next recourse is soap and water.

Still, the biggest question remains. How long does the coronavirus live on a surface? Are there types of surfaces that allow the surface to live longer?

Expert Answers

According to an Express report, viruses normally remain active longer whenever they fall on stainless steel, plastic, or other similarly hard surfaces, as compared to when they would fall of soft surfaces like fabrics.

Some of the factors that affect the duration of the virus in a certain location would include the temperature, the amount of virus that fell or deposited on a surface, and the temperature of the environment.

One example given was the virus SARS, which was known to last for days on a surface. However, with the coronavirus, an expert claimed that it could last for up to 9 days on a surface.

Professor Chris Whitty, the Chief Medica Officer of England, advised that on handrails of buses and trains, the infection could last for up to 3 days. He then added that within 48 hours, he described the infection as "largely gone."

He further explained that they're probably largely gone in 48 hours, while in 72 hours, they would almost be completely gone. For softer surfaces, the virus would last less.

Nasty Coronavirus

According to research done by Professor Gunter Kampf, COVID-19 is much tougher than common bugs. As per their research, which focused on MERS and SARS coronaviruses, they found that it could reach room temperature, retaining their capacity to infect, for up to 9 days. However, it was still found that, on average, the lifespan of these viruses is between 4 and 5 days. Conditions that increase their lifespan include high air humidity and low temperature.

Again, you can protect yourself by thoroughly washing your hands with soap and water. You can also try hand sanitizers in the absence of the former.