Cardboard
The New England Journal of Medicine recently published a study that tested how long the Coronavirus can remain stable on different kinds of surfaces within a controlled laboratory setting. They found that it was still detectable on cardboard for up to
24 hours. This is also a good indicator for other porous material like cardboard, such as fabric and paper.
Copper
Supermarkets and pharmacies are encouraging contactless payment. This decision was taken to reduce the exchange of germs on money and eliminate unnecessary hand touching. Scientists found that active particles of Coronavirus lasted up to
4 hours on copper alloys (such as 1 and 2p coins).
Plastic, stainless steel and counter tops
Coronavirus can survive on plastic, stainless steel and countertops as a functional and infectious virus for up to
72 hours (3 days ), the longest of all the materials. This is the general rule for hard, shiny surfaces. This can include children's play equipment, public transport handles and your mobile phone.
The virus does degrade over time, but you should avoid touching surfaces in shared spaces and wash your hands regularly.
In the air
A single cough can produce up to 3,000 droplets. It is estimated that the Coronavirus can remain active and possibly infectious for
3 hours in airborne droplets. These droplets can be spread from person to person if people are less than two metres apart, or if you are touching surfaces upon which droplets have landed and have not been disinfected.