The SARS-Cov-2 virus that causes Covid can survive up to 28 days on banknotes and other surfaces, reports a team of researchers in Australia. The lengthy stays were under dark lab conditions, and the real world is full of virus-killers such as UV light. But it's still longer than expected.
The researchers said that whether virus particles on a surface could infect someone was dependent on several conditions, and the time it takes for viruses to naturally inactivate was also dependent on many factors.
"The makeup of the virus itself, the type of surface it is on and whether the virus is liquid or dried can impact the time it remains viable. Environmental conditions such as temperature, exposure to sunlight and humidity also play a part," they said.
By comparison. Flu lives for 17 days under similar lab conditions, but only 2 on countertops. Wash your hands and lysol everything.
