Coronavirus can survive on human skin for 9 hours: Study

WASHINGTON: A recent study has claimed that the new coronavirus can survive many hours on human skin.

The researchers conducted lab experiments using cadaver skin that would otherwise have been used for skin grafts. While the influenza, a normal virus survived less than two hours on human skin, the coronavirus survived for more than nine hours. Both were completely inactivated within 15 seconds by hand sanitizer containing 80 percent alcohol.

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention currently recommends using alcohol-based hand rubs with 60 percent to 95 percent alcohol or thoroughly washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Studies have shown that COVID-19 transmission largely occurs via droplets. Moreover, the study concluded in a report published that proper hand hygiene is important to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infections.