Corona: '28 Days Can Survive Virus' on Banknotes and Phone Screen

Posted on 12th Oct 2020 by rohit kumar

Researchers say that the coronavirus responsible for Covid-19 disease can survive up to 28 days on certain surfaces like banknotes, phone screens, and stainless steel.

 

The National Science Agency of Australia says that the SARS-Cov-2 virus can survive on some surfaces much longer than it was thought to.

 

However, this research was done in the dark and at a constant temperature. While it has recently been revealed that this coronavirus is destroyed by the use of ultraviolet light.

 

Some experts doubt that the real danger of the human being infected with the virus present on the surface.

 

In most cases, coronavirus infection is caused by fine particles of sputum released by people coughing, sneezing, or talking.

 

What does the research say?

 

Earlier tests in the laboratory showed that the coronavirus on a banknote and glass can survive for two or three days, while on plastic and stainless steel surfaces it can survive for six days. However, there was a slight difference in the results of the laboratory test.

 

But research by Australian agency CSIRO says that the virus is 'very strong' and can survive up to 28 days in temperatures of 20 degrees Celsius and dark on smooth surfaces like mobile phone glass, plastic, and banknotes.

 

In comparison to the coronavirus, the flu virus can survive for 17 days in a similar situation.

 

Research published in the Journal of Virology has revealed that this virus survives less in warmer temperatures than in colder temperatures. When kept at 40 ° C, on some surfaces the virus does not become contagious within twenty-four hours.

 

On smooth and less retail surfaces, this virus can survive for more days while on retail surfaces like clothes it cannot survive after 14 days.

 

Is there some disagreement on this?

 

Professor Ron Axel, former director of the Common Cold Center at Cardiff University, has criticized this research. He said that it said that the virus could survive for 28 days, causing "unnecessary fear in people".

 

He said, "The virus is spread with fine particles of sputum and dirty hands that fall into a cough or sneeze. But this research has not used the fresh mucus of humans as a reason for the virus to spread."

 

"The fresh mucus of humans contains a large number of white cells that make enzymes to destroy the virus. The mucus may also contain antibodies and chemicals to compete with the virus."

 

"In my opinion, infectious viruses can only survive in the mucus that falls on the surface for a few hours and not for several days."

 

In July this year, a paper by Professor Emmanuel Goldman of Microbiology at Rutgers University was published in the well-known journal Lancet. It stated that "the risk of infection is reduced by sputum particles lying on the surface."

 

He says that such research, which poses a big risk due to the virus, "has little resemblance to real-life situations."

 

Last week at the University of California, Medicine Professor Monica Gandhi said that the coronavirus does not spread through surfaces.

 

'Make a habit of keeping hands and touchscreen clean'

 

The virus of Covid-19 spreads mainly through air. Research so far has shown that this virus can survive for three hours in the particles present in the air.

 

So far, there is no concrete information about how fast it can spread through surfaces like banknotes and touchscreens.

 

In the recent research conducted on how long this virus can survive on the surface of stainless steel, it has been found that in normal temperature it can survive on stainless steel for three to 14 days.

 

New research has seen how long this virus can survive on glass, paper, plastic notes, and steel. Researchers have found that the virus can be detected even after 28 days at 20 ° C on all these surfaces. In this, the time of survival of the virus has been told more than earlier research.

 

The conditions under which this research was carried out were compatible with the virus, such as darkroom, constant temperature, and moist air. But in real life, the virus rarely gets its favorable condition.

 

Nevertheless, these research results once again suggest that regular hand washing and touchscreen washing or sanitizing are needed to reduce the risk of infection. Also, to reduce the risk of infection, we should avoid touching our faces.

 

Why is this research important?

 

Dr. Larry Marshall, Chief Executive Officer of CSIRO, says, "How long this virus can persist on a surface, this information helps us in efforts to combat the virus, reduce infection and save people."

 

Members involved in the research say that the long-term survival of the virus on stainless steel under cold conditions explains why the Covid-19 pandemic would have had a serious impact around meat processing centers and cold storage facilities.

 

Thousands of people working in meat processing centers and slaughterhouses across the world are corona infected.

 

Earlier, one reason for more cases of virus infection has been reported to be working in closed rooms, cold and humid environments. At the same time, those who work around high-noise machines, talking in loud voice, have also been said to be an important reason for spreading the virus.

 

Researchers at CSIRO say that the results of their research match the results of earlier research in which it was said that the fresh food kept in the freezer can survive the virus longer.

 

The World Health Organization says that "no cases of Covid-19 have been reported so far due to eating or packing food."