WATCH | Covid-19 research: Virus can last 'up to seven days' on surgical mask

Research published by medical specialists in Hong Kong shows how long Covid-19 can survive on different surfaces and in various environments.

The health department painted a bleak picture of how, because of vaccine hesitancy, it was struggling to use up all the vaccines the country had secured. Stock photo.
The health department painted a bleak picture of how, because of vaccine hesitancy, it was struggling to use up all the vaccines the country had secured. Stock photo. (Jozef Polc/123rf.com)

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it is uncertain how long the virus that causes Covid-19 can survive on surfaces. So far it seems to behave like other coronaviruses.

Now new research published in medRxiv by medical specialists in Hong Kong shows how long coronavirus can survive on different surfaces and in various environments.

“Studies suggest that coronaviruses - including preliminary information on the Covid-19 virus - may persist on surfaces for between a few hours and several days,” the research finds.

“This may vary under different conditions: type of surface, temperature and humidity.”

For this reason, it is advisable to clean surfaces regularly and to wash your hands frequently.


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