How long does corona virus stay on mail
The COVID-19 virus, also known as SARS-CoV-2, can potentially survive on surfaces, including mail, for a certain period of time. However, the exact duration of survival on mail is still being researched and may vary depending on several factors.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the COVID-19 virus can survive on surfaces for:
- Up to 3 hours on plastic and stainless steel surfaces
- Up to 24 hours on cardboard surfaces
- Up to 2-3 days on fabric surfaces
It's important to note that these times are based on laboratory experiments and may not reflect real-world scenarios. The virus's survival time on mail may be shorter or longer depending on factors such as:
- Temperature: The virus survives longer at cooler temperatures (around 20°C/68°F) and shorter at warmer temperatures (above 30°C/86°F).
- Humidity: The virus survives longer in dry environments and shorter in humid environments.
- Surface type: The virus may survive longer on smooth surfaces like plastic or stainless steel and shorter on rough surfaces like fabric or paper.
- Presence of cleaning products: The use of disinfectants or cleaning products can reduce the survival time of the virus on surfaces.
To minimize the risk of transmission through mail, it's recommended to:
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling mail
- Disinfect mail and packages with a disinfectant solution if possible
- Avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, nose, and mouth, after handling mail
- Consider wearing gloves when handling mail, especially if you have a weakened immune system or are at high risk of severe illness
It's also important to note that the risk of transmission through mail is generally considered to be low, as the virus is primarily spread through close contact with an infected person, rather than through contaminated surfaces or objects.