The number has today, April 1, gone up by 22, bringing confirmed cases in Kenya to 82. More Kenyans are currently staying at home to avoid direct contact with people who might be COVID-19 positive but there is another threat.
According to a US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, RNA from the virus responsible for COVID-19 was found on the surfaces of the 'Diamond Princess' 17 days later. Meaning, the virus was not "completely dead".
Can such viruses still cause COVID-19?
Since everyone left the ship, and the virus was said to last longest on metal (for nine days), how come RNA was found on the ship?
Were the viruses alive?
And, could they still cause infection?
On this note, people are wondering whether they can get Coronavirus from packages of the items they buy, the groceries they pick from the market.
"High-touch" surfaces are of course, dangerous at the moment. They include light switches, phones, doorknobs, elevator buttons, the keys on ATM, shopping trolleys, handrails, and sink faucets.
While "traces" or "parts" of COVID-19 remain on a surface for a long time, the virus has a lifespan - after which, it cannot infect you.
This is because a virus needs all its components for it to be intact and to function. It requires its genome (genetic material) to be intact; not just parts of RNA. Meaning, the presence of RNA on a formerly infested surface will be harmless.
And, how long does COVID-19 last on different surfaces?
Let's consult experts for hard facts! Don't believe anything you read out there as the gospel truth.
World Health Organization (WHO) is still carrying out studies to ascertain how long COVID-19 lasts on various surfaces and under different circumstances.
As WHO has discovered, the lifespan of COVID-19 varies; based on the condition of the surface it is on, and the surroundings.
This is why some studies show the virus lasts for a given number of hours, while other studies prove the virus to be alive longer - even several days.
"It is not known how long the virus survives on a surface, but it appears to behave like other coronaviruses," the WHO reports.
"Studies (which includes preliminary information on COVID-19 virus) indicate that coronaviruses can subsist on a surface from a few hours to several days." The report says.
"The time may vary depending on the conditions for example: the type of surface, the temperature or the humidity of the surroundings," the report explains.
From the tests that were carried out on metallic surfaces and plastics by the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in Montana, the virus lasted up to three full days.
Elsewhere, the New England Journal of Medicine recently published their study on the same. Their findings indicate that COVID-19 remains stable on various surfaces within controlled settings in the laboratory.
They discovered COVID-19 could still be detected on copper four hours later, up to 24 hours later on cardboard, and 72 hours on steel surfaces and plastics.
They noticed the viral load (amount of virus) was decreasing with time, and this happened on all surfaces. , Meaning, reduced risk of infection should you touch these surfaces.
However, other analysis reports stated COVID-19 existed longer; in some instances, as long as nine days.
What should you do to avoid exposure to COVID-19 through touching?
You will get infected if you come into contact with infected respiratory fluid from an infected person. If they cough or sneeze around you, the droplets will land on you or on whatever is within their two-meter radius (which is why you are supposed to maintain social distance).
If they touch the droplets with their hands and touch something, they will transfer the virus, and it will remain there until washed away or sterilized using sanitizer, surgical spirit, or 70% alcohol. If you come into contact with it before it decays naturally, you will be infected.
However, that will only happen if you touch your mouth, eyes, or nose (and expose the virus to your respiratory fluids - which is an excellent breeding ground for COVID-19).
Most people are now disinfecting their packages, i.e. bread plastic bags, containers, sachets, etc. While this is good, there is no guarantee that you will completely kill all viruses that will be on these things.
It is better to empty your product and get rid of the package. Alternatively, let your shopping sit somewhere for at least nine days.
However, because, as WHO reports, we do not know how long COVID-19 survives on all surfaces under different circumstances, it will be a good idea to disinfect what you can and wash your hands after that.
So, yes, be careful about how you handle that package even if it got delivered to your doorstep!
What are the standard coronavirus preventive measures?
1. Regularly use disinfectant on the high-touch surfaces around your house.
2. Wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds every time you touch something that might expose you to COVID-19
3. Avoid touching your face - especially eyes, mouth and nose.
4. Maintain social distance
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