Covid-19 can survive on clothing for up to THREE DAYS – with polyester garments holding the virus the longest, scientists warn
- De Montfort University (DMU) added droplets of a model virus to tissues
- It stays for 3 days on polyester, 2 days on cotton and 6 hours on poly cotton
- Researchers recommend that all medical uniforms be washed to an industry standard
- Warn that a detergent with a minimum of 67 ° C can kill the virus at home, but the virus can be rubbed on other surfaces beforehand
Coronaviruses similar to Covid-19 can survive on clothing for up to three days, according to new research.
Research at De Montfort University (DMU) in Leicester looked at how a coronavirus behaves on three substances that are commonly used in healthcare.
Polyester allows the virus to survive at infectious levels for up to 72 hours, while dying within 24 hours on 100 percent cotton.
However, coronaviruses can survive on a polycotton hybrid for as little as six hours, the study found.
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Coronaviruses similar to Covid-19 can survive on clothing for up to three days, according to new research (file photo)
The study used a model coronavirus called HCoV-OC43 that is very similar to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.
Droplets were added to polyester, polycotton and cotton to see how long the virus lasted on these surfaces.
The findings are concerning, the researchers say, because if live virus sticks to healthcare providers’ clothes, it can be transported from the hospital to staff’s homes and rubbed on various surfaces, allowing it to spread.
Microbiologist Dr. Katie Laird, who led the study, advised the government that all medical uniforms in hospitals should be washed to commercial standards or through an industrial laundry facility.
Dr. Laird, head of the Infectious Disease Research Group at DMU, said, “ When the pandemic first started, there was very little understanding of how long the coronavirus could survive on textiles.
‘Our findings show that three of the most commonly used textile products in healthcare pose a risk of transmission of the virus.
“When nurses and health workers take their uniforms home, they can leave traces of the virus on other surfaces.”
Only when a detergent was used and the water was at least 67 ° C was the virus completely inactivated, but researchers say all medical uniforms should be washed to an industry standard and not taken home by staff
Public Health England (PHE) published guidelines in 2020 that health workers’ uniforms should be laundered by industry standards.
However, there is an exception if this is not considered possible.
The NHS says a home wash of at least 60 ° C is fine and can remove pathogens.
Dr. However, Laird cautions that this NHS guideline is based on 14 years old evidence and urgently needs revision.
The researchers tested the NHS advice on 100 percent cotton, the most commonly used textile in a healthcare environment.
When the virus was mixed with artificial saliva, the researchers found that home washing machines couldn’t remove all of the virus.
Only when a detergent was used and the water was at least 67 ° C was the virus completely inactivated.
While we can see from the study that washing these materials at high temperatures, even in a household washing machine, removes the virus, it does not eliminate the risk that the contaminated clothing will leave traces of coronavirus on other surfaces in the house or home. car before washing.
‘We now know that the virus can survive on some textiles for up to 72 hours and that it can also be transmitted to other surfaces.
‘This research has reinforced my recommendation to wash all care uniforms on site in hospitals or at an industrial laundry.
“These washing methods are regulated, and nurses and health workers don’t have to worry about taking the virus home.”