{"id":2074,"date":"2020-03-30T06:32:28","date_gmt":"2020-03-30T06:32:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.senatormedical.se\/?p=2074"},"modified":"2020-03-30T06:32:36","modified_gmt":"2020-03-30T06:32:36","slug":"how-long-does-the-corona-virus-live-on-surfaces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.senatormedical.se\/how-long-does-the-corona-virus-live-on-surfaces\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long Does the Corona virus Live on Surfaces?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The\u00a0coronavirus<\/a>\u00a0that causes COVID-19 mainly spreads from person to person. When someone who is infected\u00a0coughs<\/a>\u00a0or sneezes, they send droplets containing the virus into the air. A healthy person can then\u00a0breathe<\/a>\u00a0in those droplets. You can also catch the virus if you touch a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touch your\u00a0mouth<\/a>, nose, or\u00a0eyes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0coronavirus<\/a>\u00a0can live for hours to days on surfaces like countertops and doorknobs. How long it survives depends on the material the surface is made from.<\/p>\n

Here’s a guide to how long coronaviruses — the family of viruses that includes the one that causes COVID-19 — can live on some of the surfaces you probably touch on a daily basis. Keep in mind that researchers still have a lot to learn about the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19. For example, they don’t know whether exposure to heat, cold, or sunlight affects how long it lives on surfaces.<\/p>\n

Metal<\/strong>
Examples: doorknobs, jewelry, silverware
5 days<\/p>\n

Wood<\/strong>
Examples: furniture, decking
4 days<\/p>\n

Plastics<\/strong>
Examples: packaging like milk containers and detergent bottles, subway and bus seats, backpacks, elevator buttons
2 to 3 days<\/p>\n

Stainless steel<\/strong>
Examples: refrigerators, pots and pans, sinks, some\u00a0water<\/a>\u00a0bottles
2 to 3 days<\/p>\n

Cardboard<\/strong>
Examples: shipping boxes
24 hours<\/p>\n

Copper<\/strong>
Examples: pennies, teakettles, cookware
4 hours<\/p>\n

Aluminum<\/strong>
Examples: soda cans, tinfoil, water bottles
2 to 8 hours<\/p>\n

Glass<\/strong>
Examples: drinking glasses, measuring cups, mirrors, windows
Up to 5 days<\/p>\n

Ceramics<\/strong>
Examples: dishes, pottery, mugs
5 days<\/p>\n

Paper<\/strong>
The length of time varies. Some strains of coronavirus live for only a few minutes on paper, while others live for up to 5 days.<\/p>\n

Food<\/strong><\/p>\n

Coronavirus doesn’t seem to spread through exposure to food. Still, it’s a good idea to wash\u00a0fruits and vegetables<\/a>\u00a0under running\u00a0water<\/a>\u00a0before you eat them. Scrub them with a brush or your hands to remove any germs that might be on their surface.\u00a0Wash your hands<\/a>\u00a0after you visit the supermarket. If you have a weakened\u00a0immune system<\/a>, you might want to buy frozen or canned produce.<\/p>\n

Water<\/strong><\/p>\n

Coronavirus hasn’t been found in drinking water. If it does get into the water supply, your local water treatment plant filters and disinfects the water, which should kill any germs.<\/p>\n

Coronaviruses can live on a variety of other surfaces, like fabrics and countertops.<\/p>\n

Coronavirus Transmission: What You Need to Know<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

What You Can Do<\/strong><\/p>\n

To reduce your chance of catching or spreading coronavirus, clean and disinfect all surfaces and objects in your home and office every day. This includes:<\/p>\n