Human coronaviruses can remain active on surfaces such as metal, glass, or plastic for up to 9 days after exposure, according to an article on the Infection Control Today website.
Cleaning those surfaces with a solution that’s 62 percent to 72 percent ethanol, .5 percent hydrogen peroxide, or 0.1% sodium hypochlorite within 1 minute of contamination is the best answer, according to a recent study.
The study said that while the viral load of coronaviruses on inanimate objects during an outbreak is unknown, but it’s plausible that disinfection methods should help, especially when applied to frequently touched surfaces where you might expect the viral load to be most potent, according to the article.
The investigators cite the World Health Organization, which advises “that environmental cleaning and disinfection procedures are followed consistently and correctly.
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