New research on SARS-CoV-2 virus 'survivability'

Date:
October 12, 2020
Source:
CSIRO Australia
Summary:
COVID-19 causing virus lasts for 10 days longer than Influenza
on some surfaces Lower temps, glass, stainless steel and paper
banknotes give virus longer life.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Researchers at CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, have found
that SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, can survive for up
to 28 days on common surfaces including banknotes, glass -- such as that
found on mobile phone screens -- and stainless steel.


==========================================================================
The research, undertaken at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) in Geelong, found that SARS-CoV-2:
* survived longer at lower temperatures * tended to survive longer
on non-porous or smooth surfaces such as glass,
stainless steel and vinyl, compared to porous complex surfaces
such as cotton
* survived longer on paper banknotes than plastic banknotes.

Results from the study, "The effect of temperature on persistence of
SARS-CoV- 2 on common surfaces," was published in Virology Journal.

CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Larry Marshall said surface survivability
research builds on the national science agency's other COVID-19 work,
including vaccine testing, wastewater testing, Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) manufacture and accreditation, and big data dashboards supporting each state.

"Establishing how long the virus really remains viable on surfaces
enables us to more accurately predict and mitigate its spread, and do
a better job of protecting our people," Dr Marshall said.

"Together, we hope this suite of solutions from science will break down
the barriers between us, and shift focus to dealing with specific virus hotspots so we can get the economy back on track.



==========================================================================
"We can only defeat this virus as Team Australia with the best Australian science, working alongside industry, government, research and the
Australian community." Dr Debbie Eagles is Deputy Director of ACDP,
which has been working on both understanding the virus and testing a
potential vaccine.

"Our results show that SARS-CoV-2 can remain infectious on surfaces for
long periods of time, reinforcing the need for good practices such as
regular handwashing and cleaning surfaces," Dr Eagles said.

"At 20 degrees Celsius, which is about room temperature, we found that
the virus was extremely robust, surviving for 28 days on smooth surfaces
such as glass found on mobile phone screens and plastic banknotes.

"For context, similar experiments for Influenza A have found that it
survived on surfaces for 17 days, which highlights just how resilient SARS-CoV-2 is." The research involved drying virus in an artificial
mucus on different surfaces, at concentrations similar to those reported
in samples from infected patients and then re-isolating the virus over
a month.



========================================================================== Further experiments were carried out at 30 and 40 degrees Celsius,
with survival times decreasing as the temperature increased.

The study was also carried out in the dark, to remove the effect of UV
light as research has demonstrated direct sunlight can rapidly inactivate
the virus.

"While the precise role of surface transmission, the degree of surface
contact and the amount of virus required for infection is yet to be
determined, establishing how long this virus remains viable on surfaces
is critical for developing risk mitigation strategies in high contact
areas," Dr Eagles said.

Director of ACDP Professor Trevor Drew said many viruses remained viable
on surfaces outside their host.

"How long they can survive and remain infectious depends on the type
of virus, quantity, the surface, environmental conditions and how
it's deposited -- for example touch vs droplets emitted by coughing,"
Professor Drew said.

"Proteins and fats in body fluids can also significantly increase virus survival times.

"The research may also help to explain the apparent persistence and
spread of SARS-CoV-2 in cool environments with high lipid or protein contamination, such as meat processing facilities and how we might better address that risk." CSIRO, in partnership with Australian Department
of Defence, undertook the studies in collaboration with the 5 Nation
Research and Development (5RD) Council, which comprises representatives
from the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

Each country is conducting research on different aspects of virus
survivability with the results shared as they become available.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by CSIRO_Australia. Note: Content may
be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Shane Riddell, Sarah Goldie, Andrew Hill, Debbie Eagles, Trevor
W. Drew.

The effect of temperature on persistence of SARS-CoV-2
on common surfaces. Virology Journal, 2020; 17 (1) DOI:
10.1186/s12985-020-01418-7 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201011220759.htm

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