As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across the globe, researchers are working tirelessly to understand the virus and how it is transmitted. Since the beginning of the outbreak, there have been questions about the role that surfaces play in spreading the virus. A new study confirms what many have suspected: that you can get COVID-19 from coronavirus-contaminated surfaces. The findings of the research have significant implications for public health policies and emphasize the importance of disinfecting frequently touched surfaces in preventing the spread of the disease.
A new study published in The Lancet Microbe showed that detecting the Covid-19 virus on people’s hands and household surfaces was associated with transmission of the virus. The study recruited people in London, UK, who were diagnosed with the virus from September 2020 through March 2021. The research team from Imperial College, London, dubbed them “primary cases” and repeatedly tested for the virus on their hands and on the hands of those who shared the same household with them. The study involved repeatedly testing frequently-touched surfaces in the communal spaces of those households. During the study period, the research team identified 620 primary cases and then continued to test 414 people who shared 279 households with them.
The results from this study provided further evidence that the virus can spread not only through contact with infected people and the air but also via contaminated hands and surfaces. Thus, frequent handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and regularly disinfecting high-touch surfaces such as keyboards, table tops, door knobs, and other commonly touched items is important. The rates of transmission did not correlate with the amount of virus that the primary cases had in their upper respiratory tract, but instead with the detection of the virus on their hands or on high-touch surfaces. In fact, household members were found to be over twice as likely to catch the virus when the primary cases had detectable virus on their hands or on high-touch surfaces.
It is important to remember that no single intervention is going to be enough to tackle the pandemic, and policies and interventions need to be layered on top of each other, including vaccination, face mask use, air filtration/purification, cleaning/disinfection, and treatment. Regularly cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and providing hand sanitizer and sinks with soap to wash hands are crucial. While these measures cost money, it is worth investing in them since getting employees and customers sick is bad for business, and finding better ways to prevent the spread of infectious diseases is important.
In conclusion, the new study confirms that Covid-19 can be contracted through contaminated surfaces. It is important to continue practicing good hygiene measures, such as washing your hands frequently, wearing masks in public places, and disinfecting high-touch surfaces to help prevent the spread of the virus. By being vigilant and taking necessary precautions, we can all do our part in defeat this pandemic.
