The coronavirus is a virus that started circulating in humans in late 2019. Also known as SARS-CoV-2, this virus causes an infectious disease called (COVID-19) coronavirus disease 2019.
How does the coronavirus spread?
SARS-CoV-2 spreads fast from person to person mainly through respiratory droplets produced when someone who is infected with the virus coughs, talks or sneezes near you, resulting in the droplets landing on you. You could acquire this virus by touching your eyes, nose or mouth after touching an object or surface with SARS-CoV2 on it. But this is not the main way that the coronavirus spreads.
What are the symptoms of the coronavirus?
Common symptoms of the coronavirus include:
• Loss of taste and smell
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Continuous cough
• Fiver
• Muscle aches
How long does the virus live on surfaces?
For those in schools as well as businesses and their own homes, one way to prevent the spread is to understand how long the virus lasts on surfaces. Understanding how long the coronavirus lasts on surfaces means understanding that the survival length of the virus depends upon the surface on which it rests. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the most common shared surfaces where the virus rests.
Metal
Metal is often used in a wide range of objects that humans use daily. Common metals include copper and steel. People have been advised to wash their hands or use hand sanitiser after touching doorknobs. This is because the coronavirus can live on metal surfaces, such as doorknobs and silverware, for up to seven days. As such, when you go in and out of buildings with metal doorknobs or the like, it’s best to use hand sanitiser or wash your hands and refrain from touching your face. Stainless steel can support the coronavirus for up to three days or seventy-two hours. This means even your appliances at home and cooking utensils can support COVID-19 for a fairly long time. The virus is less stable on items made of copper, such as electrical wires, jewellery and cookware, with the virus staying less than four hours on copper surfaces.
Wood
Wood can carry the coronavirus on its surface for up to two days. This includes furniture, desks, shelving and other wooden surfaces. For that reason, schools and businesses must clean daily to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Plastic
Plastics can support the virus on surfaces for up to three days. Plastics are quite common around us; consider that our milk containers, laundry detergent bottles and other cleaning product containers, public transportation (seats), even elevator buttons and backpacks can contain plastics that support the virus for up to forty-eight hours. Again, businesses such as grocery stores, retail shops, restaurants and especially schools all are synonymous with this type of material.
Buildings such as hospitals and schools generally use PVC hygienic wall cladding as it is easy to clean and resistant to most bacteria and germs. The Flooring Studio has vast experience in both supplying and installing hygienic wall cladding. They state that this material is far superior to traditional wall tiles as it does not attract mold.
Cardboard
One type of surface that all of us encounter every day – and even more so with people staying at home and ordering online – is cardboard. When we couldn’t safely go to the grocery store, we ordered many products to be delivered to our homes. Cardboard can support the coronavirus for at least twenty-four hours. Therefore, it is a smart idea to disinfect any packages before handling them or wear gloves.
Glass
The virus can last on glass objects for up to five days. These include windows, mirrors, measuring cups, drinking glasses and screens for smartphones, computers and TV.
Paper
The length of time that coronavirus lasts on paper varies. Generally, paper can support the virus from a few minutes to five days. Always disinfect or wear gloves when handling mail. Studies have found that the virus can live on tissue paper and printing paper for more than three hours. On the other hand, it can live on paper money for a maximum of 4 days.
What you can do?
To be safe, wash your hands with running water and soap after touching any of these surfaces. If water and soap are not available, you can use sanitiser gel. Keep in mind that the most effective method to protect yourself from the coronavirus is proper hand washing.
Also, to reduce the chances of spreading or catching this new virus, you should clean and disinfect the aforementioned objects and surfaces in your office and home daily. Use a wipe or household cleaning spray. When dealing with dirty surfaces, you should first use soap to clean them before disinfecting. Alternatively, you can make a bleach solution and use it for the next 24 hours. Always keep surfaces in your home clean, even if everyone is healthy. Infected individuals may not have symptoms of the disease, but they can shed the virus.
