Coronavirus exists in air for hours, days on contaminated surfaces: Report
March 18, 2020, 4:44 pm

Coronavirus exists in air for hours, days on contaminated surfaces: Report

A civil defense worker sprays disinfectant as a precaution against the coronavirus in Baghdad on March 11, 2020. (File photo AP)

The coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, can be caught through breathing infected air or after touching contaminated objects, according to a new report by National Institutes of Health (NIH), CDC, UCLA, and Princeton University scientists.

The virus is stable in air for up to three hours, the report found, and surfaces can still be infectious for up to three days on certain materials.

“The results provide key information about the stability of SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19 disease, and suggests that people may acquire the virus through the air and after touching contaminated objects,” NIH said in a statement.

The study found that the virus was detectable for up to four hours on copper and up to 24 hours on cardboard. The coronavirus lasts longer on plastic and stainless steel – up to two or three days.

The scientists compared the new coronavirus to the SARS outbreak in 2003-2003, the most closely related recent viral outbreak. In the study, both diseases behaved similarly, “which unfortunately fails to explain why COVID-19 has become a much larger outbreak.”

Emerging evidence suggests that the reason for the widespread nature of the coronavirus compared to SARS is likely because people infected with the new coronavirus are infecting others without recognizing any symptoms, the scientists suggested.

“This would make disease control measures that were effective against SARS-CoV-1 less effective against its successor,” the statement said.

The findings from the study suggested that various guidelines put in place by public health officials were of use in preventing the spread of the coronavirus including:

• Avoid contact with the sick,

• Avoid touching the face,

• The sick should stay at home,

• Cover all coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then dispose of the tissue, and

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects regularly.

The coronavirus has caused widespread shut downs across the world as authorities move to contain its spread. The virus has infected over 200,000 people worldwide, with over 8,000 dead. More fatalities have been reported in Europe than in Asia, where China was the epicenter of the virus.

In the Middle East, borders have been closed and authorities restricting travel to certain countries or for citizens to leave the country altogether. levant

source: Matthew Amlôt levant

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.