Goodbye to sterilizing purchases ... Coronavirus does not spread across surfaces

With the prevalence of fear of the transmission of the new Corona virus "Covid-19", the purchasing rates of detergents and sterilizers increased, which seemed compulsory for housewives in the first period of the pandemic, but the latest laboratory studies today confirm the ineffectiveness of surface sterilization, especially if compared With proper ventilation and adherence to the correct social distancing rules.

The two ancient scientific magazines The Lancet and Nature published studies stating that the exaggeration in sterilizing surfaces, purchases and grocery materials that the researchers advised with the onset of the pandemic is useless, based on the fact that the presence of virus remains on surfaces is weak, because what appears positive through contamination of these surfaces is the corpse of the virus. The ability to transmit infection compared to its transmission through droplets.

Focus on the most important points that the person touches, such as the handles and the toilet (Getty Images)

Despite the controversy of this opinion - as scientists added that this does not negate the ability of surfaces to transmit infection at all - this opinion still confirms that social spacing, face masks (such as the muzzle), hand washing and good ventilation are the main means of protection from the virus, and that the main method of infection is It is the transmission of droplets of droplets in all sizes from the patient to others, and therefore there is no need for a state of obsession with cleaning household surfaces continuously, as it was happening during the past year.

Review infection protection priorities

A microbial scientist at Rutgers College, New Jersey, decided to take a closer look at the possibility of infection transmission through contaminated surfaces, as mentioned at the beginning of the pandemic, protection directives in the American Centers for Disease Control, as the CDC reviewed this with new recommendations that confirm Infection through surfaces and materials is not comparable to infection through air and direct contact.

No obsession with cleaning household surfaces and purchases constantly (Getty Images)

This came after evidence accumulated about the scientific understanding of the virus, as the data indicated that most cases of transmission occur from the transmission of droplets from infected people while coughing, talking, or even breathing and inhaling it by others.

No cases have been detected due to the reason for the transmission of infection from surfaces, and although it is theoretically possible and possible, scientists still assert that the best way to sterilize surfaces and purchases is to improve ventilation, and the risk of transmission from surfaces remains low.

How long the virus lives on surfaces

The researchers began to test whether the virus samples remaining for days on different surfaces could infect cells grown in the laboratory, and the study published in the journal Nature found that the virus remained positive on hard surfaces such as plastic and stainless steel for 6 days, while it lasted for 3 days. Days of banknotes.

Also, the virus remains on the skin for up to 4 days, but its presence continues on clothes for less than 8 hours, and one expert commented on that that these devices detect viral RNA, which is equivalent to the corpse of the virus and it is not contagious, as the presence of The virus is already positive, but it has nothing to do with its ability to infect.

Tips for housewives

To reassure housewives, experts have advised to use soap and washing powder alone in closed spaces, as for disinfection with sterilizers and disinfectants, it is not necessary unless there is an already infected person in the house during the past 24 hours, so regular cleaning is not considered a waste of time as it is believed that it is not the same. As important as ventilation, and it is necessary only if it is proven that an infected person is in the house, and at that time you must focus on the most important points that the injured person touches, such as the handles and the toilet.

Exaggerated cleaning offers can be dangerous

Vincent Hill, head of the Prevention Center at the Waterborne branch, stated in a video to the CDC that exaggerated offers of sterilization and disinfection - especially in public places - give a false sense of safety and protection, and therefore this feeling leads to indulgence in the use of masks and touching the face. And mouth and nose, and it may reduce the rates of hand washing and hand sterilization due to the comfort left by the continuous cleansing scenes, and this false feeling is not required, because the priority is to protect the face from the spray, and therefore mask, social distancing and continuous hand washing is the most important.

Exaggeration in sterilization and disinfection offers a false sense of safety and protection, but proper ventilation is better prevention (Getty Images)

And last year, millions spent time and money because of wiping surfaces and purchases, and many companies, homes and people spent huge sums of money on sterilization and disinfection materials in order to limit the spread of the virus, so that the world recently discovered that this comes in the last priority and not the main way to protect against Corona infection, so the distance remains Socializing, masks and hand washing is the priority and way to get rid of the outbreak.