Coronavirus
Out of context: Reply #834
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Here are some background thoughts about the study that was discussed in media and social medias last week - How long can a Virus on sufaces like door handles, be infectious? The study claims up to 3 days.
Dr. Christian Drosten tries to give an answer to that question. He said it depends strongly in which form the virus is on the test surface. There is a big difference if the virus in a big liquid drop (Labor Technic) or in a small drop that has nearly no volume.
The study was very simple so the results can be questioned. He thinks not that the main problem to get infected is because of touching things, the much bigger problem can be if people are too close to each other.
So, the interpretation of this study can get easily misinterpreted, it's more a technical Study.
In his known experiments on all different surfaces there is no measurement for a virus after mostly max. 8 to 24 hours. It goes down to zero rapidly on Surfaces.
So, in real life conditions if we cough into our hands and there is virus on our hands and we touch a door handle, the liqid volume is much thinner. Cause the liquid is thinner, so it drys much quicker than a drop in the labor on a surface. On the other hand we have to ask, what drop is this? Cause a cell-culture medium is not the same than a cough slime and salvia.
So with a study like this we have to be careful. It is not false, but it is very simplified, so a real infection case can possible not be pictured with it.
Also when the surface is dry there is nearly no virus left on surfaces.
Maybe more important is a big distance to each other.
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The Pdcast is puplished on NDR Info (German).
_- so, 'up to 3 days' means 'up to 3 days at ideal temperature, on an ideal surface, in a big liquid drop'. bonus points for 'cough slime'kingsteven