Expert: Dr. Suneela Garg, MD, FIPHA FIAPSM, FIAGP
Coronavirus spreads mostly through respiratory droplets and then through contaminated surfaces, such as droplets people emit when they cough, sneeze, talk, sing, or exhale and then these droplets can transmit onto anyone in close proximity (3-6 feet) to the person, which is why social distancing and wearing masks are so important. Out of these droplets, the heavier ones which do not get dispersed into the air, may land up on nearby surfaces and in turn, be transferred either when someone who is infected, touches his hand to his face and then uses that hand to press a lift button, or a non-infected person touches these surfaces and then touches his nose or mouth. For this reason, hand hygiene is extremely important. Objects that we frequently touch with bare hands, such as lift buttons, work desks, doorknobs, and railings, are of great concern and should be disinfected periodically.
Simply touching a contaminated surface doesn’t spread COVID-19. But touching a contaminated surface and then touching your respiratory inlets, allows the virus to enter the body and cause infection.1 Experts mention that common public places in general are pools for viruses, bacteria, and other germs, so when one sneezes, it is direct transmission into the environment and the respiratory particles can land on surfaces such as a doorknob or desks.1
It is still not known as to how long the novel Coronavirus can live on non-living surfaces, but researches indicate the Coronavirus may survive on different surfaces from a few hours to days. A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine2 and The Journal of Hospital Infections3, showed that on different types of materials, Coronavirus can remain infectious from 2 hours up to 9 days; it remained more stable on plastic and stainless steel than on copper and cardboard, and viable virus was detected up to 72 hours after application to these surfaces.2 For e.g. on metal, up to 5 days, on wood, 4-5 days, on glass, 4 days, on plastic from 5-9 days, etc.3 Furthermore, Riddell et al. in their recent study have reported that infectious Coronavirus can be recovered from nonporous surfaces for at least 28 days at ambient temperature and humidity (20°C and 50% respectively).
Certain surfaces are riskier than others, which is why health experts across the globe and agencies such as the CDC are emphasizing on the importance of regular handwashing, wearing masks, and social distancing to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus. People should practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces (for example: tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks, and electronics) with household cleaners that are appropriate for the surface.5 The CDC further recommends that for electronics, it is advisable to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection options. Consider use of wipeable covers for electronics.
Source:
https://www.atlanticare.org/blog/coronavirus-putting-it-into-perspective2
N Engl J Med 2020;382:1564-67
J Hosp Inf 2020;104(3):246-51.
Virol J (2020) 17:145
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cleaning-disinfection.html?