A new Australian study shows that coronavirus can last as long as 28 days on surfaces like glass, stainless steel and even on plastic-infused currency, leading to a new call for handwashing and use of hand sanitizer, Reuters reports.
Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, found that at room temperature, 68° F, the virus can last up to four weeks on flat surfaces including glasses and glass screens on cell phones. The study was published in Virology Journal.
“It really reinforces the importance of washing hands and sanitising where possible and certainly wiping down surfaces that may be in contact with the virus,” said the study’s lead researcher, Shane Riddell.
While the likelihood of infection is much lower the longer the virus lingers, the potential for the virus to infect someone rises with the vulnerability of the the individual.
The study used samples from COVID infected patients spread on artificial mucus and measured it on different surfaces at different temperatures. It survived longest on smooth surfaces at lower temperatures.
By comparison, a sample of Influenza A, the most common type of the virus, lasts only 17 days under similar conditions.