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Jan 26, 2024 · Because of the many variables that influence virus survival, the virus that causes COVID-19 may be able to live on surfaces anywhere from 30 minutes to as long as seven days, according to a 2023 review of studies in Transbound Emerging Diseases. How Long Does the COVID Virus Live in the Air?
- Overview
- How long does coronavirus last in the body?
- How long does the virus last on clothes and surfaces?
- How long does it last in the air?
- How long does it last in food?
- What to do if symptoms appear
- Prevention
- Summary
Understanding how long COVID-19 lasts in a person’s system and how long it stays alive on surfaces or in the air, can help prevent transmission.
The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, spreads easily from person to person.
This article explores the available research on how long the novel coronavirus lasts in the body and how long it remains active in various situations.
Coronavirus data
All data and statistics are based on publicly available data at the time of publication. Some information may be out of date. Visit our coronavirus hub for the most recent information on COVID-19.
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The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, is the virus responsible for causing the illness COVID-19. Most people who develop COVID-19 symptoms improve without treatment in 2–6 weeks. However, this does not necessarily reflect how long the virus itself remains active in the body.
COVID-19 has an incubation period, meaning it can be days before a person notices symptoms. In the case of SARS-CoV-2, a person can transmit the virus 48 hours before developing symptoms.
Many people experience mild symptoms, while some experience no symptoms at all. This can make it difficult to tell who has the virus.
How long the virus lasts in the body depends on the individual and the severity of the illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advise that people who test positive for COVID-19 should isolate themselves for the following amount of time:
These figures represent when a person is most at risk for transmitting SARS-CoV-2 to others.
However, the virus may remain in the body at low levels for up to 3 months after diagnosis. This may mean some people get a second positive test result even after they recover, although this does not necessarily indicate the virus is still transmissible.
A study from the New England Journal of Medicine investigated how long SARS-CoV-2 would survive on various surfaces, including plastic, stainless steel, copper, and cardboard. The findings suggest that the virus could survive for:
•4 hours on copper
•24 hours on cardboard
•72 hours on plastic and steel
However, while researchers can detect SARS-CoV-2 on various surfaces under laboratory conditions, it is unclear if this corresponds to a risk of infection under normal circumstances.
A September 2020 study in The Lancet found that when researchers swabbed various surfaces in a major hospital in Italy, only one item of protective equipment tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. They conclude that, as long as people follow standard cleaning procedures, the risk of transmission from surfaces is low.
The study on surfaces also found that SARS-CoV-2 could survive in aerosol form for 3 hours. An aerosol is a fine mist of liquid suspended in a gas, such as air.
As the experiment ended after 3 hours, the total amount of time that SARS-CoV-2 survives in the air could be longer. However, some factors, such as air temperature and humidity, may also play an important role.
A June 2020 review notes that other coronaviruses survive for longer in colder, less humid air. This may mean SARS-CoV-2 will become a more seasonal virus in some climates. The study on surfaces also did not consider how the virus might travel through the air in everyday situations.
SARS-CoV-2 spreads via respiratory droplets, which are tiny drops of liquid that enter the air when a person coughs, sneezes, or talks. A May 2020 study found that loudly talking can emit thousands of these droplets into the air, remaining airborne for around 8–14 minutes in a confined space.
Currently, there is no direct evidence a person can contract SARS-CoV-2 from food. The World Health Organization (WHO) state that coronaviruses need a live animal or human host to survive, and that they cannot multiply on food packaging surfaces.
The WHO suggest washing fruits and vegetables as normal and washing hands thoroughly before eating. People should also ensure they do not share cutlery or plates with those who may have COVID-19.
If a person believes they have symptoms of COVID-19, or they may have been exposed to the virus that causes it, they should self-isolate in their home and call a doctor. Do not visit a healthcare facility without calling ahead first.
According to the CDC, COVID-19 symptoms can include:
•fever
•cough
•shortness of breath
•fatigue
The best way to prevent COVID-19 and stop transmission to others is to avoid exposure to the virus that causes it. The CDC recommend:
•washing the hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
•using hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol, if soap and water are not available
•avoiding touching the face, particularly the nose, eyes, or mouth with unwashed hands
•staying at least 6 feet, or 2 meters, away from people who are outside of a person’s household
•wearing a mask in public places, when around people from other households, or in situations where physical distancing is difficult
The novel coronavirus, or SARS-CoV-2, is active in the body for at least 10 days after a person develops symptoms. In people with severe illness, it may last up to 20 days. In some people, low levels of the virus are detectable in the body for up to 3 months, but by this time, a person cannot transmit it to others.
There is currently no evidence the virus can survive in food, but early evidence suggests it may last several hours on copper, 24 hours on cardboard, and up to 72 hours on plastic and steel. However, this does not necessarily mean the virus detected on these materials can trigger an infection.
Dec 26, 2022 · The length of time varies. Some strains of coronavirus live for only a few minutes on paper, while others live for up to 5 days.
Apr 29, 2020 · How Long Does the Coronavirus Live on Different Surfaces? Different surfaces. Temperature. Shoes and clothing. Food and water. Viability. How to clean. Bottom line. In late 2019, a new...
Mar 14, 2020 · They found that it remained virulent on surfaces for a lengthy period: from up to 24 hours on cardboard to up to two or three days on plastic and stainless steel. It also remained viable in...
Mar 17, 2020 · We can pick up Covid-19 by touching surfaces contaminated with the new coronavirus, but it is now becoming clear just how long the virus can survive outside the human body in the air, on...
Mar 20, 2020 · Samuel Volkin. / Mar 20, 2020. According to a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can live in the air and on surfaces between several hours and several days. The study found that the virus is viable for up to 72 hours on plastics, 48 hours on stainless steel, 24 hours on ...
