How long can Covid-19 survive on surfaces?

Posted by Edward Jonkler on June 3, 2020

The SARS-CoV-2 pathogen which causes the disease Covid-19 has been a devastating and difficult pathogen to deal with. The silent symptoms many experience, especially during the incubation period of the disease where carriers are still contagious, is part of the reason why the pathogen has spread so successfully across the globe. 

Another major contributing factor to its prevalence however has been its capacity to survive on surfaces. The disease spreads through water droplets which are released into the air when we cough and sneeze and can land on nearby surfaces and picked up by other people. This means healthy individuals are able to contract the disease without ever coming into contact with an infected person simply by placing their hand on an infected surface, such as a door handle or banister. 

Research by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an agency in the US which is now the epicentre of the disease, carried out an assessment into how long SARS-CoV-2 can survive on different surfaces. Their findings revealed the novel coronavirus could remain contagious for 4 hours on copper, 24 hours on cardboard, and as long as 2 to 3 days on plastic and stainless steel.

The discovery highlights the importance of regular hand washing and avoiding touching your face as often as possible, something most of us would usually do around 23 times an hour. It also demonstrates how important it is that problem areas for pathogen spread are cleaned regularly and effectively during the pandemic and beyond. Commonly trod parts of the home and office such as door handles, banisters and taps can all become hubs for reinfection given the frequency and necessity of their use.

If you’re concerned about maintaining cleanliness in some of the busier parts of your home or office, Remora offer a wide range of intensive and bespoke cleaning services to ensure your staff and family are able to go about their day as safely as possible. Contact us to discuss which of our services could best meet your needs. 

Remora is a London-based cleaning and property services company, offering the highest levels of customer service and flexibility across our range of services. Find out more about what we can do for your property here.

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