Beijing, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The novel coronavirus can be spread by contact, and frequent hand-washing and disinfection are important. So, in general, what are the "hotbeds" suitable for the survival of the virus in daily life? And how long can viruses live on these surfaces?

According to the British National Health Service (NHS) website, the length of time a virus can survive after leaving the body depends on the surface of the object it is attached to, as well as environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity. In general, viruses survive longer on non-permeable (waterproof) surfaces, such as stainless steel or plastic. The virus survived shorter on permeable surfaces, such as fibrous fabrics or paper towels. The survival time varies by species, with some viruses surviving for more than seven days on indoor surfaces, although their ability to cause disease decreases significantly within 24 hours. So hard objects, such as elevator buttons and doorknobs, are virus carriers that need extra care.

In 2014, a paper published in the American Journal of Infection Control by scientists from Britain, France, the United States, China and other countries studied the survival period of influenza A (H1N1) virus on four common surfaces. The researchers analyzed multiple samples of wood, stainless steel, plastic and fabric surfaces in homes. The results showed that wood surfaces were the best breeding ground for the virus, which could remain infectious for up to 48 hours. The survival time of the virus on stainless steel and plastic surfaces was generally about 24 hours; The survival time of the virus attached to the fabric surface is the shortest, and the virus activity will rapidly decline to zero within 8 hours.

Another paper published in the American journal of Applied and Environmental Microbiology in 2016 looked in more detail at the survival of H1N1 influenza virus on stainless steel surfaces under different environmental conditions. The study showed that the influenza virus could survive for up to 7 days on stainless steel surfaces and still be contagious. The study demonstrated the "extremely long standby time" of influenza viruses on non-permeable surfaces.

The NHS website also says that the flu virus can survive for hours in the air in droplet form, with cold temperatures increasing its ability to survive. However, the survival time of the flu virus on hands is very short, with the number of viruses on hands dropping to very low levels in about five minutes.

Good hand hygiene and regular disinfection of commonly used surfaces are important to slow the spread of viruses during flu season and other pandemics, researchers say. Studies have shown that using concentrations of bleach, vinegar, dish soap or antibacterial rags to clean surfaces can effectively reduce the activity of influenza viruses.

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