Expert laughs off study suggesting virus can last 28 days on surfaces

Dr Faheem Younus, the head of infectious diseases department at the University of Maryland in US, has laughed off the Australian study that suggested virus that causes Covid-19 can survive on banknotes, glass and stainless steel for up to 28 days.

The Pakistani origin doctor, who often debunks myths and misconceptions related to coronavirus, has termed the Australian researchers claim as “nonsense”.

“Such studies are conducted in artificial lab conditions: dark, damp without body’s defences. Cell phones, currency aren’t a risk for Covid,” he said in a tweet on his official handle on Monday.

In a bid to ward off the fears of thousands of his followers on the famous micro-blogging site, he sarcastically asked them to send their phone or money “if [they are] still afraid”.

Findings from the study done by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, appear to show that in a very controlled environment, the virus remained infectious for longer than other studies have found.

CSIRO researchers found that at 20 degrees Celsius (68 Fahrenheit), the SARS-COV-2 virus remained infectious for 28 days on smooth surfaces such as plastic banknotes and the glass found on mobile phone screens.

The study was published in Virology Journal.

(With input from Reuters)