THE human coronavirus-2019 (HCoV-19) is now officially called the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), doctors Neektje van Doremalen, Trenton Bushmaker and Dylan Morris announced in a March 17 editorial article in The New England Journal of Medicine. Van Doremalen and Morris work at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. Meanwhile, the disease is still called the “coronavirus disease 2019” (Covid-19).

They also announced new findings in the aerosol and surface stability tests on the SARS-CoV-2. These findings must guide all of us in self-protection each time we go out into the community.

SARS-CoV-2 in aerosols remains alive at least three hours in the air. It is actually unknown how long beyond three hours because their experiment took only three hours. This means that aerosols from people infected with the coronavirus can stay more than three hours and stays infectious when breathed in. The safest practice is to assume double the time (six hours).

The coronavirus can stay viable after 72 hours on plastic surfaces and after 48 hours on stainless steel surfaces. Take note of the word “after” because that is crucial. These viruses do not stay viable “up to” 72 or 48 hours, respectively. Instead, these remain infectious even after 72 or 48 hours on these surfaces.

On copper surfaces, the SARS-CoV-2 stays alive after four hours. Thus, on these surfaces, it is not wise to wait for hours to feel confident that these are no longer viable. It is far wiser to wash these surfaces with detergent and water. The idea is to wash out these microorganisms. Using alcohol to disinfect should not be relied upon because viruses do not die on exposure to alcohol unless alcohol is used to wipe out metal surfaces. The goal is to wash them out or remove these from the surfaces, not merely to disinfect (kill).

Meanwhile, on cardboard, no viable SARS-CoV-2 remains alive after 24 hours.

Be wise and cautious in protecting yourself and your family.