Coronavirus Live on Surfaces
By Dr. KK AGGARWAL PRESIDENT CMAAO, HCFI AND PAST NATIONAL PRESIDENT IMA Metal doorknobs, jewellery, silverware 5 days Wood furniture, decking 4 days Plastic packaging like milk containers and detergent bottles, subway and bus seats, backpacks, elevator buttons 2-3 days Stainless steel refrigerators, pots and pans, sinks,
By Dr. KK AGGARWAL
PRESIDENT CMAAO, HCFI AND PAST NATIONAL PRESIDENT IMA
| Metal | doorknobs, jewellery, silverware | 5 days |
| Wood | furniture, decking | 4 days |
| Plastic | packaging like milk containers and detergent bottles, subway and bus seats, backpacks, elevator buttons | 2-3 days |
| Stainless steel | refrigerators, pots and pans, sinks, some water bottles | 2-3 days |
| Cardboard | shipping boxes | 24 hours |
| Copper | pennies, teakettles, cookware | 4 hours |
| Aluminium | soda cans, tinfoil, water bottles | 2-8 hours |
| Glass | drinking glasses, measuring cups, mirrors, windows | Up to 5 days |
| Ceramics | dishes, pottery, mugs | 5 days |
| Paper | 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. | |
| Food | Coronavirus doesn’t seem to spread through exposure to food. Still, it’s a good idea to wash fruits and vegetables under running water before you eat them. Scrub them with a brush or your hands to remove any germs that might be on their surface. Wash your hands after you visit the supermarket. If you have a weakened immune system, you might want to buy frozen or canned produce.
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| Water | 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.
Coronaviruses can live on a variety of other surfaces, like fabrics and countertops.
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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:
- Countertops
- Tables
- Doorknobs
- Bathroom fixtures
- Phones
- Keyboards
- Remote controls
- Toilets
Use a household cleaning spray or wipe. If the surfaces are dirty, clean them first with soap and water and then disinfect them.
Keep surfaces clean, even if everyone in your house is healthy. People who are infected may not show symptoms, but they can still shed the virus onto surfaces.
After you visit the drugstore or supermarket, or bring in takeout food or packages, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm water. Do the same thing after you pick up a delivered newspaper.
