The corona virus spreads on the surface of hospital objects

COVID-19 is transmitted from person to person through droplet (saliva splashes) from an infected person. Because of their weight, the virus-filled droplets can only last a few seconds in the air before falling to the surface, they don't fly off the air.

However, recent research has found that the DNA of the corona virus can move and spread in hospital wards within 10 hours. Could the viral DNA that spreads and sticks to objects in the hospital infect people who come in contact with them?

How does the corona virus survive on the surface of objects?

SARS-CoV-2, the corona virus that causes COVID-19 is transmitted through droplet or a splash of saliva that comes out when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or talks.

Experts believe droplet it cannot move more than 1 to 2 meters in the air. Therefore we are advised to maintain physical distance (physical distancing) when outside the home to avoid infection.

In addition to direct person-to-person transmission, SARS-CoV-2 can also infect people from contact with a surface contaminated with the virus. When touching an object contaminated with the virus and then touching the face, the virus has the potential to enter the body through the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, or mouth.

Report in journal New England Journal of Medicine indicates that SARS-CoV-2 can survive on stainless steel and plastic for up to 3 days. This means that during that time, the virus still has the potential to infect people who touch it.

But everything about the corona virus that causes COVID-19 is still being researched, recent studies can complement or refute previous research.

COVID-19 Outbreak updates Country: IndonesiaData

1,024,298

Confirmed

831,330

Recovered

28,855

DeathDistribution Map

Coronavirus DNA spreads in hospitals within 10 hours

From the latest research, it is known that the DNA of the corona virus can contaminate nearly half of the surfaces of objects in hospitals.

The study was conducted by researchers from the University College Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital. They conducted trials using the artificial SARS-CoV-2 virus which is no longer dangerous to humans.

Researchers placed 1.15 billion of the artificial coronavirus on surfaces in children's isolation rooms in hospitals. At night, researchers took samples from the surfaces of objects in the rooms across from the isolation room.

From the results of the analysis, the corona virus can move out of the isolation room and contaminate nearly half of the surfaces of objects in hospitals.

Within the first 10 hours, 41% of the samples were detected to contain viral DNA. Contaminated surfaces include bedding, door handles, and children's books and toys in the waiting room.

From this research the researchers conveyed that the spark droplet of an infected person can spread to more than one room.

"The virus contaminates one surface of an object and is then spread to another place from the touch of patients, medical personnel and visitors," said Elaine Cloutman-Green, one of the leading research and health scientists at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

From this study, you are expected not to go to the hospital when you are not needed. If you want to visit, you can virtually use a gadget. There are also good times when to see a doctor in a hospital during COVID-19.