May 5, 2020
Coronavirus series – COVID-19, has a capacity to survive serve cold conditions that can last up to two years at below freezing points. Conditions apply, if it is similar to coronaviruses from the same family, according to a medical expert from the Cleveland Clinic, Abu Dhabi.
The latest member of the coronavirus family – COVID-19 has surged on global level, taking the world in a single whip and sweeping every corner of the world giving birth to a pandemic surroundings. This particular virus has killed more than 249,225 people. Although the latest virus of corona category is still new, therefore there is a less literature known about it, though experts say the spread is both via human-to-human contacts and via surface to surfaces.
Some rumoured that extreme climates and temperatures may help kill disease, one medical expert warned that the rest of the coronavirus family has the ability to withstand freezing temperatures, and the new born can equally be persistent and adamant.
“Research into similar coronavirus strains has shown that, in general, coronaviruses are stable in freezing temperatures and have been shown to survive for up to two years at -20 degrees Celsius,” explained Dr. Mohamad Mooty, Department Chair, Infectious Diseases, Medical Subspecialty Institute, at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.
Given that studies on SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, two recent coronavirus outbreaks, showed that viruses could survive for up to 72 hours at the average temperature of a fridge (4 °C), Dr. Mooty said, “It is safe for us to assume that the virus responsible for COVID-19 might be similarly persistent.”
According to the expert, if the new coronavirus is as persistent as its predecessors, it could survive on surfaces in freezers long after authorities aim to have suppressed the pandemic – living on food packaging in a freezer, for example.
“While we do not know the specifics of how long this virus can survive on surfaces, it is best to be safe and act as though it is able to survive on surfaces in freezing temperatures for anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of years,” said Dr. Mooty.
Stay home stay safe, good hygiene, social distancing key to protection
To be on safe side, health ministry and authorities continue to focus on maintaining good hygiene and avoiding human-to-human contact through social distancing and isolation as the main means of further preventing the spread of COVID-19.
“With that said, there is no undue cause for concern,” said Dr. Mooty.
“There is no evidence to suggest that COVID-19 is passed on through food. By practicing regular hand hygiene, people can minimize their risk of contracting the virus from surfaces such as door handles, elevator buttons and frozen food boxes,” he added.
“People are significantly more likely to be exposed to COVID-19 by coming into close contact with infected people. By avoiding crowded areas, practicing social distancing and regular handwashing, I am confident that people can protect themselves from infection.”