Recent research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows that the COVID-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) can remain viable on certain surfaces for up to three days, although the viral load drops significantly over time.
The virus spreads primarily through tiny droplets of saliva and mucus propelled up to 1-2 meters, especially during coughing or sneezing. These droplets can enter the eyes, nose, or mouth, providing an ideal environment for replication inside the body.
Health experts strongly recommend maintaining distance from potentially infected individuals. Without a host, viral particles typically survive only a few hours, which holds true in most scenarios.
Given SARS-CoV-2's rapid spread, NIH researchers investigated its stability in dry conditions.
Using a nebulizer to simulate micro-droplets from an infected person's cough, the team tested survival on various materials. Results showed the virus lasting up to 4 hours on copper, 24 hours on cardboard, and 72 hours on plastic and stainless steel—with viral load greatly diminished after 72 hours. This underscores the importance of regularly disinfecting high-touch areas like door handles and railings, particularly in hospitals.
Published on the preprint server medRxiv, the study also found SARS-CoV-2 particles surviving up to three hours as aerosols in the air. However, no evidence confirms infections from prolonged airborne particles.
This environmental resilience doesn't fully explain COVID-19's high transmissibility. The 2003 SARS virus (SARS-CoV-1) exhibited comparable longevity in tests.
The researchers conclude: "HCoV-19 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused significantly more illness and deaths than SARS-CoV-1, and it proves harder to contain. Our results indicate that greater transmissibility is unlikely due to superior environmental viability compared to SARS-CoV-1."
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