French researchers have just conducted a study to find out if SARS-CoV-2 can survive high temperatures. Unfortunately, the results are rather worrying and it turns out that the virus is more resistant than expected.
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While part of the researchers around the world are concentrating their efforts on finding a vaccine or a drug against Covid-19, another is studying the behavior of SARS-CoV-2, its mode of contamination and its resistance. It is on this last point that researchers from the University of Aix-Marseille have looked. Their study was published in the BioRxiv scientific archive. And if the results are to be believed (the study has not yet been peer reviewed), Covid-19 would not be a seasonal illness as one might think. This study may prove particularly useful for laboratories around the world that perform thousands of Covid-19 tests every day. Without forgetting all the others who are looking for drugs and vaccines against the coronavirus. All of these people are handling the virus so make sure they stay protected from it.
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SARS-CoV-2 resistant to 60 ° C for 15 minutes…
To carry out their study, the researchers infected African green monkey kidney cells with the virus. The cells were then placed in two test tubes which represented a “clean” and a “dirty” environment, respectively. The “dirty” environment contained animal cells to simulate contamination as it would happen in a human being. Both tubes were heated to 60 degrees Celsius for a full hour.
After verification, it turned out that “dirty” tube strains were still able to replicate. However, it is the same protocol that has already been used in laboratories to eliminate other viruses, including Ebola. It should also be noted that the tube contained a high amount of SARS-CoV-2, which probably increases its resistance.
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… But destroyed at 92 ° C for 15 minutes
Following this first experiment, the researchers increased the temperature to boil for fifteen minutes (92 degrees Celsius). And there SARS-CoV-2 was eliminated. The concern is that in the event of a screening test, the high temperature would damage ribonucleic acid (RNA) so the test result would not be reliable. For this reason, researchers advise laboratories to use chemicals instead of temperature to neutralize the virus.
Although this research is focused on laboratory conditions, there is no evidence that the virus does not have the same resistance outside. Until it has been scientifically proven, it is safer to act as if the virus is resistant to high temperatures. Regardless of the temperature of the water you wash your hands with or objects, remember that it’s a chemical reaction that kills the virus. So always use hydroalcoholic gel, soap or any other disinfectant. And no, Covid-19 is probably not a seasonal disease that summer will magically disappear.
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Source: BGR
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