Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

February 10, 2020

Persistence of coronaviruses on inanimate surfaces and its inactivation with biocidal agents

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  • Authors conducted a literature review to determine the ability of coronaviruses to persist on inanimate objects, with potential applications for the current 2019-nCoV outbreak. Both SARS and MERS coronaviruses can persist on inanimate surfaces (fomites) for up to 9 days. They can be inactivated effectively by disinfection procedures with 62-71% ethanol, 0.5% hydrogen peroxide, or 0.1% sodium hypochlorite within one minute.

Kampf et al. (Feb 6, 2020). Persistence of coronaviruses on inanimate surfaces and its inactivation with biocidal agents. J of Hosp Infect. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2020.01.022