“We’re not by any way saying there is aerosolized transmission of the virus,” said study leader Neeltje van Doremalen at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. However, van Doremalen added that transmission in this way is theoretically possible as research suggests that the virus stays viable for long periods in those conditions.
Findings suggested that three hours later, a viable virus could still be detected in the air. Meanwhile, the virus survived on copper surfaces up to four hours later, and up to 24 hours later on cardboard. The virus was detected as viable on plastic and stainless steel surfaces up to two to three days later.
Other factors “likely to play a role include the infectious dose required to establish an infection, the stability of virus in mucus, and environmental factors such as temperature and relative humidity,” the study suggests.
The findings have not yet been peer reviewed by other scientists, and were posted on a site where researchers can quickly share their work before publication. However, if verified, the study’s findings would correlate with increasing evidence of “community spread” of the virus.
Julie Fischer, a microbiology professor at Georgetown University described the study as a “solid piece of work” that answers the public’s questions and highlights the importance of the hygiene advice that public health officials have been stressing.
Van Doremalen suggested cleaning surfaces with solutions containing diluted bleach is most likely to kill the virus.
“We have called every day for countries to take urgent and aggressive action. We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear,” WHO’s chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday.
“All countries can still change the course of this pandemic. If countries detect, test, treat, isolate, trace and mobilize their people in the response,” he said. “We are deeply concerned by the alarming levels of spread and severity and by the alarming levels of inaction.”
The ban will come into effect on Friday at midnight and excludes non-Schengen countries like the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as returning Americans who have had “appropriate screenings” for the virus.