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The number of people infected with the coronavirus COVID-19 is still increasing. People feel helpless and doctors are still looking for a drug that would effectively fight the dangerous virus. As already established, you should take care of personal hygiene, including washing your hands as often as possible. But what about items? How long can the COVID-19 coronavirus survive from them? We check in which situations to be especially careful.
The COVID-19 coronavirus first appeared in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019. It spread quickly, attacking other countries. In January 2020, the first cases of infection were recorded in Europe.
Poles are also at risk – an epidemic was announced on March 20. As a result, the borders were closed, movement and trade were severely restricted. Due to the rapid spread of the virus, schools, kindergartens and some businesses were closed. The lockdown lasted until mid-May, when the COVID-19 coronavirus disease curve began to slowly flatten.
Find out more: Could I be infected with the coronavirus?
Since September, a significant increase in the incidence of COVID-19 has been recorded in Poland. For this reason, further restrictions have been introduced to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission. For this purpose, there is an obligation to cover the nose and mouth in public spaces throughout the country.
- Check it out: Coronavirus COVID-19 in Poland. Current restrictions
The characteristic symptoms of the COVID-19 coronavirus are: cough, high fever and shortness of breath. Other flu-like symptoms may also appear: general weakness or headache. Loss of smell and taste should also trigger the alarm. The most vulnerable to COVID-19 infection are seniors and people who have a weakened immune system due to other diseases.
To protect yourself against the COVID-19 coronavirus, you must follow the rules established by the World Health Organization (WHO). As a rule of thumb, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 15-30 seconds.
Avoiding touching your face with your hands is also one of the preventive measures, as the COVID-19 coronavirus is mainly transmitted by airborne droplets. It can get into the body through the nose, mouth and eyes.
Researchers from the Japanese medical school in Kyoto have found that the coronavirus can stay on the hands up to three times longer than the group A virus (two hours). Scientists studied the behavior of the coronavirus 24 hours after a patient dies with symptoms of infection. It turned out to be present on the hands for up to nine hours after death was pronounced.
The way to avoid infection with the COVID-19 coronavirus is also to carefully cover the mouth and nose, as well as to maintain social distance (at least 1,5 m distance from other people). This is due to the fact that the coronavirus can spread not only through airborne droplets.
- Masks help build immunity
As emphasized by scientists from the US federal government agency CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services, it is also possible to air transmission. Coronavirus particles smaller than 5 microns can remain in the air for at least 12 hours.
- Find out more: The CDC has recognized the risks of coronavirus airborne transmission. There are new guidelines
As the COVID-19 coronavirus can spread by airborne as well as airborne droplets, it appears on objects after coughing or sneezing. The World Health Organization admits that the duration of the COVID-19 coronavirus on the surface depends on its humidity and temperature. Under laboratory conditions, the coronavirus could survive at 4 degrees C, but inactivated at 70 degrees C.
There are reports that the virus can survive up to 3 hours in an aerosol produced by a sick person (when coughing or sneezing) indoors.
See also: Coronaviruses – Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention of Infection
Scientists are still studying the behavior of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus on various surfaces. While some issues remain controversial, recent experiments show that in laboratory conditions the coronavirus can survive up to 28 days. Due to the type of invoice, this period is a variable value:
- plastic (bags, bottles, toys, credit cards, light on / off switches, keyboard and computer mouse) – from 3 to 7 days,
- metal (door handles, jewelry, keys) – from 3 to 7 days, but it should be noted here that on copper items, which can include coins or jewelry, the coronavirus lasted much shorter (approx. 4 hours),
- paper (banknotes, towels, newspapers, toilet paper) – from 3 hours to 4 days,
- glass (mirrors, TV sets, windows) – up to 4 days,
- wood (furniture) – up to 2 days.
How to disinfect items?
The subject where the most germs can be is the smartphone. Plastic items as well as watches and jewelry are also at risk. Therefore, the accessories that we use every day should be properly disinfected. For this purpose, you can use special disinfectants for various equipment or disposable soaked wipes.
The editorial board recommends the most important articles about the coronavirus:
- Why does the coronavirus kill some and run like a cold in others?
- A handshake or a “turtle”? Epidemiologists have proven that the traditional greeting carries 10 times more microbes
- What To Do When You Have Symptoms Of Coronavirus? Step by step rules of conduct
Have more questions about the coronavirus? See: Coronavirus COVID-19 – the most important questions and answers
Did not find the coronavirus question on the list that you would like to know the answer to? Write to us at: [email protected]and we will answer your question (we only answer medical questions).
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