Scientists say SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing the COVID-19 pandemic can survive on surgical face masks for up to seven days.
Researchers are working hard to understand how long the virus remains contagious on various surfaces and under certain conditions.
Scientists from Hong Kong said they found ‘a significant level of infectious virus could still be detected on the outer layer of a surgical mask’ after seven days.
However scientists in the US say there are no viable SARS-CoV-2 was measured after 24 hours on cardboard. That gives hope that postal service is relatively risk-free.
According to scientists printing paper, including newspapers however kill the virus in three hours.
But experts have announced that there is the possibility of infection from goods that have been transported is low.
Initial findings from scientists at the University of Hong Kong found the virus was highly stable for an extended period at 4°C.
At room temperature it can survive at high levels for seven days if untreated, but will be eradicated after 14 days.
When incubated at 27°C — body temperature — it diminishes over 24 hours and is undetectable afterwards.
The World Health Organization has advised that people are unlikely to contaminate commercial goods, including those shipped through the post.
A statement from WHO said “The likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is low and the risk of catching the virus that causes COVID-19 from a package that has been moved, travelled, and exposed to different conditions and temperature is also low.”
The global death toll for the coronavirus pandemic currently stands at almost 24,000, with more than half a million confirmed cases.
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Source: Africafeeds.com
