Coronavirus exists in air for hours, days on contaminated surfaces: Report
March 18, 2020, 4:44 pm

Coronavirus exists in air for hours, days on contaminated surfaces: Report

A civil defense worker sprays disinfectant as a precaution against the coronavirus in Baghdad on March 11, 2020. (File photo AP)

The coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, can be caught through breathing infected air or after touching contaminated objects, according to a new report by National Institutes of Health (NIH), CDC, UCLA, and Princeton University scientists.

The virus is stable in air for up to three hours, the report found, and surfaces can still be infectious for up to three days on certain materials.

“The results provide key information about the stability of SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19 disease, and suggests that people may acquire the virus through the air and after touching contaminated objects,” NIH said in a statement.

The study found that the virus was detectable for up to four hours on copper and up to 24 hours on cardboard. The coronavirus lasts longer on plastic and stainless steel – up to two or three days.

The scientists compared the new coronavirus to the SARS outbreak in 2003-2003, the most closely related recent viral outbreak. In the study, both diseases behaved similarly, “which unfortunately fails to explain why COVID-19 has become a much larger outbreak.”

Emerging evidence suggests that the reason for the widespread nature of the coronavirus compared to SARS is likely because people infected with the new coronavirus are infecting others without recognizing any symptoms, the scientists suggested.

“This would make disease control measures that were effective against SARS-CoV-1 less effective against its successor,” the statement said.

The findings from the study suggested that various guidelines put in place by public health officials were of use in preventing the spread of the coronavirus including:

• Avoid contact with the sick,

• Avoid touching the face,

• The sick should stay at home,

• Cover all coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then dispose of the tissue, and

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects regularly.

The coronavirus has caused widespread shut downs across the world as authorities move to contain its spread. The virus has infected over 200,000 people worldwide, with over 8,000 dead. More fatalities have been reported in Europe than in Asia, where China was the epicenter of the virus.

In the Middle East, borders have been closed and authorities restricting travel to certain countries or for citizens to leave the country altogether. levant

source: Matthew Amlôt levant

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”