The virus
that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is stable for several hours to
days in aerosols and on surfaces, according to a new study from National
Institutes of Health, CDC, UCLA and Princeton University scientists in The New England Journal of Medicine.
The scientists found that severe
acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was detectable in
aerosols for up to three hours, up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on
cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel. The
results provide key information about the stability of SARS-CoV-2, which causes
COVID-19 disease, and suggests that people may acquire the virus through the
air and after touching contaminated objects. The study information was widely
shared during the past two weeks after the researchers placed the contents on a
preprint server to quickly share their data with colleagues.
The NIH scientists, from the
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ Montana facility at
Rocky Mountain Laboratories, compared how the environment affects SARS-CoV-2
and SARS-CoV-1, which causes SARS. SARS-CoV-1, like its successor now
circulating across the globe, emerged from China and infected more than 8,000
people in 2002 and 2003. SARS-CoV-1 was eradicated by intensive contact tracing
and case isolation measures and no cases have been detected since 2004.
SARS-CoV-1 is the human coronavirus most closely related to SARS-CoV-2. In the
stability study the two viruses behaved similarly, which unfortunately fails to
explain why COVID-19 has become a much larger outbreak.
The NIH study attempted to mimic
virus being deposited from an infected person onto everyday surfaces in a
household or hospital setting, such as through coughing or touching objects.
The scientists then investigated how long the virus remained infectious on
these surfaces.
The scientists highlighted
additional observations from their study:
·
If the viability of the two coronaviruses is similar,
why is SARS-CoV-2 resulting in more cases? Emerging evidence suggests that
people infected with SARS-CoV-2 might be spreading virus without recognizing,
or prior to recognizing, symptoms. This would make disease control measures
that were effective against SARS-CoV-1 less effective against its successor.
·
In contrast to SARS-CoV-1, most secondary cases of
virus transmission of SARS-CoV-2 appear to be occurring in community settings
rather than healthcare settings. However, healthcare settings are also
vulnerable to the introduction and spread of SARS-CoV-2, and the stability of
SARS-CoV-2 in aerosols and on surfaces likely contributes to transmission of
the virus in healthcare settings.
The findings affirm the guidance
from public health professionals to use precautions similar to those for
influenza and other respiratory viruses to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2:
·
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
·
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
·
Stay home when you are sick.
·
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw
the tissue in the trash.
·
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and
surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Journal
article: https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMc2004973
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