Coronavirus Survives 9 Hours on Skin

COVID-19 has found its way across nearly every corner of the earth, and its ability to survive for long periods outside a host has been a part of its ability to spread. Now, new research has uncovered that the novel coronavirus can survive on human skin for a surprisingly long time and that has raised alarms.

COVID-19 Survival on Skin

We house millions of microbes on and in our bodies, but not all hitchhikers have the ability to survive on us for long. But researchers have recently investigated how well SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, fares on human skin and published their findings in the October 2020 edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases.

The study compared the lifespan of SARS-CoV-2 to that of the influenza A virus (IAV), finding a vast difference between the two. Whereas IAV survives on the skin for an average of 1.82 hours, SARS-CoV-2 can last several times that — an average of 9.04 hours. These results underscore the coronavirus’ relative hardiness, one of the reasons it’s spread as much as it has.

SARS-CoV-2 Can Survive on Multiple Surfaces

Previous research has shown the coronavirus’ ability to survive outside the body depends largely on environmental temperatures and surface texture. For example, in average conditions, the virus can last about 2 days on a dollar bill and about 1 day on wood; it degrades after only about 30 minutes sitting on tissue paper, but it can persist for up to a week on the outer surface of a face mask.

Whereas the virus might survive on some surfaces for up to 2 weeks in colder temperatures, hotter temps can render it inactive in less than a minute. Bleach, ethanol solutions, iodine and benzalkonium chloride are all capable of thoroughly disinfecting surfaces either by killing the virus or loosening its ability to hold on.

Staying Safe from COVID on Surfacses

According to the CDC, COVID-19 can spread via droplets floating in the air (so please wear a mask) and from surfaces through physical transmission. Because the virus can potentially be picked up from any given surface to the hands, where it can persist for many hours, an effective defense strategy is vital to avoid infection. Wash hands regularly, practice social distancing and disinfect common surfaces frequently. Keep hands away from the face and always wear a mask while out in public. Be aware that the skin can pick up particles form the air and that these virus particles can survive on the skin and may even cause transmission. It's also probably advisable to shower  after being in enclosed spaces with others and when washing hands to wash up to the elbows as well.

The more we learn about COVID-19, the scarier it becomes, but the more we also discover about fighting it. By minimizing its survival time on surfaces and limiting airborne transmission via masks, we can turn the tide. But we each must do our part to make that happen.

Copyright 2020, Wellness.com