Coronaviruses: How long can they survive on surfaces?

Their work helps us understand how long coronaviruses survive on surfaces, and how people may be able to destroy them.The authors initially compiled the information for inclusion in an upcoming textbook; but, author Eike Steinmann explains that “under the circumstances, the best approach was to publish these verified scientific facts in advance, in order to make all information available at a glance.”Their work, which appears in The Journal of Hospital Infection, focuses on the coronaviruses responsible for two of the most recent outbreaks: severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). Their paper also draws information from studies that investigated veterinary coronaviruses, such as transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), mouse hepatitis, and canine coronavirus.The first section of the new paper focuses on how long coronaviruses can survive on inanimate surfaces, such as tables and door handles.