Prolonged Infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 in Fomites

Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Sep;26(9):2256-2257. doi: 10.3201/eid2609.201788. Epub 2020 Jun 24.

Abstract

We spotted severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 on polystyrene plastic, aluminum, and glass for 96 hours with and without bovine serum albumin (3 g/L). We observed a steady infectivity (<1 log10 drop) on plastic, a 3.5 log10 decrease on glass, and a 6 log10 drop on aluminum. The presence of proteins noticeably prolonged infectivity.

Keywords: 2019 novel coronavirus disease; COVID-19; SARS; SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus; coronavirus disease; fomites; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; viruses; zoonoses.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Aluminum / analysis
  • Betacoronavirus / isolation & purification*
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / transmission*
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology
  • Disease Transmission, Infectious*
  • Fomites / virology*
  • Glass / analysis
  • Humans
  • Pandemics
  • Plastics / analysis
  • Pneumonia, Viral / transmission*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / virology
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Plastics
  • Aluminum