The spread of the new epidemic of the Corona virus (Covid 19) "the enemy of mankind" - as the World Health Organization put it - sparked a general mobilization in the world and an aggressive speech about the virus "We are at war" with it, according to French President Emmanuel Macron.

The virus is spread mainly through breathing, as well as through physical contact, which means that the front line is often in the everyday purposes of our lives.

Here is a tour of "internal enemies", from the elevator button to the toilet, but also on items that may be the subject of suspicions that are in fact innocent of them.

Sworn enemies

"Any purpose or surface that has been contacted or contaminated with coughs, saliva drops, or human excrement can be contagious," says researcher at the University of California Lloyd Smith's laboratory, Amandine Gamble.

And a study published last week in the American "Negm" magazine that contributed to its preparation showed that the new Corona virus can be monitored on plastic and stainless steel surfaces for a period of two or three days, and on the carton for up to 24 hours.

However, this data was obtained under test conditions, and it is not certain that the remaining viruses are sufficient to transmit the infection.
The researcher recommended: "We should warn in the first place of the purposes and surfaces that can be touched by a large number of people, such as coffee tables, metal bars in common transportation, door handles, elevator buttons and electrical switches in the common spaces."

And since it is not possible to completely avoid contact with these objects and surfaces (for those who live in buildings for example, or when going out to shop), it is important to wash our hands and avoid contact with our face to avoid infection, and to cover our mouth with our elbows when we sneeze or forbidden when we sneeze So as not to pass the infection on to others. ”

The University of California epidemiologist Brandon Brown said that the first enemy is "the things we use outside and put them back in." He explained that «in the stores, we may take out our wallet after we have touched other surfaces or items (contaminated), that we take out money, cards or identity documents, and all of this may be exposed to pollution.

The Hidden

It is not excluded that the new corona virus will also be transmitted by human excrement, and this is stated in a study conducted by Chinese researchers and published by the "Nature" newspaper on March 13. The researchers monitored the effects of the virus in a sample extracted from a pediatric anal scan.
"If the waste is proven to be contaminated, then it will be necessary to take precautions from the toilets as well, which may not make sense for a respiratory disease, but it was previously observed in the past," said researcher Amandine Gamble. With the Corona virus that caused the SARS epidemic in 2002-2003.
However, it is not yet known whether the virus detected by the study is still in a condition that it can transmit the infection, which can only be verified by transplanting it.


The mobile phone that constantly accompanies us may be a fifth column. "We use our mobile phones all day, whether we are at home or at work (...) or shop in stores," said Bradon Brown. This makes it very vulnerable »to the virus.


But professor of computational biology at University College London, François Palo made a different opinion, saying that sterilizing cell phones "will not be harmful, but I do not see how sterilization of them can protect us or limit the spread of (Covid 19), unless we share our phones." Rangers with others ».

Not harmed

It can be suspected that the computer keyboard is contaminated with viruses as it is used manually, especially that it is made of plastic and includes many angles.

But some researchers consider that it plays only a minimal role, or does not play any role at all in the transmission of the virus, if we assume that its user, who is often the only user of it, washes his hands when he arrives at his home or office.

Brandon Brown said tap water and hot plates were safe to consume, contrary to popular belief. He added, "The tap water is centrally treated and cleaned, and it does not pose a threat with regard to Covid 19."

"As for food, if the uncooked foods you buy are contaminated with the virus, the virus will die after cooking," he added.