Suppose you are in captivity due to Coronavirus; Not going anywhere, not meeting anyone. Even if you go to the store in case of emergency, always remains the panic. As soon as you touch anything, it seems that the Coronavirus got infected! If this is the case, you may not be infected with the Coronavirus, but you may immediately become mentally exhausted. You will lose your appetite, lose sleep, and gradually become physically weaker.
The Coronavirus that spreads in the form of a global epidemic and the disease Covid-19 caused must be taken seriously. But at the same time, you need to be careful not to panic unnecessarily.
That’s why you need to know the exact information about the Coronavirus. How the virus spreads, how long it lasts in what kind of environment, or on what type of surface? What makes you more at risk of getting infected, and what makes the risk relatively low? Let’s try to know that.
How long Coronavirus can survive in the Air?
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First of all, let’s find out how the Coronavirus spreads through the air, and how long it can survive. Coronavirus is most commonly spread through sneezing and coughing. When we sneeze or cough, tiny water droplets are released. A typical cough can cause 3,000 such as droplets, and sneezing can cause 40,000 droplets. The virus spreads from the infected person’s body through these droplets into the open air.
If these droplets enter the nose or mouth of someone directly in front of them, that person may also be infected with the Coronavirus.
But even if not inserted directly, these droplets can fall into someone’s hand or clothes, slip on a table, computer keyboard, or any other surface. Then enter someone’s nose or mouth through someone’s hand. And some tiny droplets can float in the air for a while without falling anywhere.
In a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine on March 17, researchers found that the virus could survive up to three hours in droplets while in the air after coughing. A few large droplets can fall to the ground due to gravity within half an hour. But very fine droplets, aerosols with a diameter of 1 to 5 microns, can survive for several hours in still air.
After someone sneezes or coughs, the virus can enter his body with his breath if someone goes to that place. However, over time, these droplets gradually decline, and the number and effectiveness of the virus in them also decreases. Also, sneezing or coughing in the open air instead of in a closed environment can quickly spread the virus around and reduce the chances of infection.
The study was conducted in a confined environment of the laboratory. But scientists believe that the virus will become ineffective in a short period, as there is always some ventilation in the general environment. So there is nothing about to panic.
If anyone does not stand in front of someones when he sneezes or coughs. Or does not move around in a few seconds, the chances of infection are not very high.
How long Coronavirus can survive in plastic or steel surface?
Coronaviruses can survive longer on the surface of other objects than in air. The study described above shows that the virus can survive for two to three days on plastic and stainless steel. This means that if someone has the virus in his hands, then after he touches any surface once, whoever touches that for the next two to three days, everyone will be at risk of infection. The surface of This type can be the doorknob, bus or train handle, electrical switch, mobile phone cover, food container, or any other plastic or steel surface.
Coronavirus on Cardboard
The same study found that the virus can survive on cardboard for up to 24 hours. This is important because many people do not go out on their own during this coronavirus infection and order food or other products at home. These products are usually delivered in cardboard packets. As a result, there is a possibility of getting infected from such packages.
However, if the interval between packing and delivery is more than 24 hours, the risk of infection is significantly reduced.
Only the one who will deliver if he is infected, in that case, the risk may remain. However, in that case, since the outer side of the packet will be infected, you have to open the package, take out the inner product carefully, and then throw away the package and wash your hand properly.
Copper Surfaces
Coronaviruses have been found to survive on copper surfaces for a very short time. The virus lives only four hours on copper; As a result, where Doorknobs, railings, or handles in various places use copper instead of steel. The fewer people there, the less likely Coronavirus is to be infected.
Coronavirus survives longest on the surface of Glass.
The Coronavirus has been found to survive the longest on the surface of the glass. A study published last January in the Journal of Hospital Infections found that coronaviruses on glass can survive for up to four days. And that is why mobile phone screens, mirrors, lenses, etc. are very risky.
‘Half-Life’ of the Coronavirus
There is another thing involved with all this. That is the ‘half-life’ of the virus. Half-life is when the number of viruses is halved. For example, if the half-life of a virus is 2 hours, then every 2 hours, half the number of viruses will die. If there are 800 viruses on a surface at first, then after 2 hours, that number will become 400. After 4 hours it will become 200, after 6 hours it will become 100. Because of this half-life, the longer you go, the less likely you are to be infected by a virus from a surface.
Coronaviruses also need water droplets or droplets to survive. As the water dries out and evaporates over time, the number of viruses begins to decrease, and the chances of infection also decrease. Studies have shown that the half-life of Coronavirus in the air is 1.1 to 1.2 hours. This half-life is 5.8 hours on the steel surface and 7.6 hours on a plastic surface. As time goes on, the number of viruses on a surface decreases; so, the chances of infection also decrease.
This particular species of Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is completely new. So, the idea of scientists about this is still not fully clear. That is why contradictory statements are often found.
For example, Earlier, the World Health Organization claimed that the virus does not spread through the air, so wearing a mask is unnecessary. But now research shows that the virus can spread through the air, so it is essential to wear a mask.
Our idea of the virus will surely become more apparent in the coming days as more new research results are published. And that’s why we need to keep up to date with the latest information.
The virus is most likely to be infected by direct contact with an infected person’s sneezing, coughing, or by shaking hands. Besides, objects in public places that many people touch daily, such as elevator buttons and stair railings, are also at higher risk of infection. But objects that fewer people touch are much less likely to be infected.
Another important thing is that just touching a virus can affect anyone, not only that. Several viruses have to enter the body to be infected with the virus. However, the number is not yet evident in the coronaviruses case.
Therefore, it is unnecessary to stay under house arrest after eliminating the initial risk. All that is required is to be clean, not to get too close to anyone, to wash your hands regularly.
Regularly clean the surface of objects that are most exposed to human touch with a solution of 70% alcohol or 0.5% hydrogen peroxide and bleach in 0.1% sodium hypochlorite.
Only then will it be possible to be fairly safe.
