How persistent is the coronavirus?
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Scientists studying the new coronavirus have found that it can survive for lengthy periods outside the human body, remaining viable in the air for several hours and persisting on surfaces for days
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One cough or sneeze produces thousands of droplets. These can land on other people, clothing and surfaces, but some smaller particles can remain in air
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VIABILITY OF VIRUS IN AIR

Persistence: Virus still able to infect people for at least three hours when aerosolised into fine, floating particles

Half-life: 50% of virus particles lose function after about 66 minutes. Amount of viable virus down to 12.5% at end of third hour

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VIRUS TRANSMISSION

Between people who are in close contact with one another (within 2m)

Through respiratory droplets produced when infected person coughs or sneezes

By person touching surface or object that has virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes – but this is not thought to be main way that virus spreads
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PERSISTENCE ON SURFACES

Plastic and stainless steel:
Viable virus detected after three days. Half-life: 6 hours 49 minutes for plastic, 5 hours 38 minutes for stainless steel

Cardboard: Virus not viable after 24 hours. Half-life: About 3 hours 30 minutes

Copper: Shortest survival time – four hours for virus to become inactivated. Half-life: 46 minutes
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Sources: BBC Future, CDC, Reuters Picture: Flickr / Tina Franklin © GRAPHIC NEWS