Coronavirus, which has caused more than 4,500 deaths across the globe, can remain viable in the air for up to three hours, and on plastic and stainless steel for up to three days, according to a study conducted by a team of U.S. government researchers released Wednesday.
The lead author of the study cautioned that the findings do not prove that coronavirus can be transmitted through the air, only that it is “theoretically possible.”
“We’re not by any way saying there is aerosolized transmission of the virus,” Neeltje van Doremalen, a scientist at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, told The Associated Press.
The virus, referred to as both COVID-19 and HCoV-19, is being transmitted rapidly in some way, either through person-to-person contact, or through particles in the air or on surfaces. U.S. health experts have urged the public to take precautions to avoid becoming infected and transmitting coronavirus. Frequent hand-washing, avoiding handshakes, and large crowds in certain areas is recommended.
As of Wednesday, more than 120,000 people across the globe — as well as 1,100 Americans — tested positive for the virus. Thirty-three people have died in the U.S., and more than 4,500 in all. The number of cases in the U.S. has more than tripled since March 6.
The patients who succumb to the virus tend to be older or have underlying health conditions.
As part of the study, scientists dispensed coronavirus through a nebulizer into a device that recreated an open-air environment. Coronavirus particles were also put onto a variety of surfaces common in homes and hospitals, including cardboard, plastic, stainless steel and copper.
Researchers found that coronavirus remained viable for the longest on plastic and stainless steel.
“We found that viable virus could be detected in aerosols up to 3 hours post aerosolization, up to 4 hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to 2-3 days on plastic and stainless steel,” the study says.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease and a member of the White House coronavirus task force, told Congress on Wednesday that the situation in the U.S. is “going to get worse” with respect to the virus. He said that the virus has spread to far to contain, and that the public has to take mitigation steps, such as improving personal hygiene and avoiding large crowds.
Fauci also said that he estimates that the mortality rate for coronavirus patients is around 1%, making it 10 times as lethal as the common flu.
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“… has spread to far to contain…”
Losing my confidence in your report
Coronavirus: List of 10 Science Based Reasons Why People Ought Not to Panic https://thefederalistpapers.org/opinion/coronavirus-list-10-science-based-reasons-people-not-panic?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=brief-FP&utm_campaign=dailyam&utm_content=federalist-papers
“Wuhan Plague “ Chinese Communist Party has known bats are special reservoirs for deadly viruses for decades. Eating and handling wild caught bats is insanity. CCP did nothing to stop this transmission link to the world, They could have outlawed and enforced bans on exotic bats and mammal sales. Nothing done. The crackerjack communist disease experts knew people all over the country are eating bats. They are still eating them today.
COVID 19 is HERE !!!…. A FACT we can’t change….We must accept that and take precautions to protect ourselves and loved one. We’ve been given the guide lines. And, All of us were given ‘common sense’ (though some apparently haven’t thought enough to find theirs) COMMON SENSE IS, FOR NOW, OUR BEST DEFENSE ..//fear and panic will slow you down.
Strengthen your faith…prayers are answered
So here is my question. Since everything mentioned in the article may have been room temperature, has anyone tested the survival rate of the virus in hot air, like 95, 100, maybe more? I have been in parking lots when it was insufferable, maybe 110 or more, and survived.