Coronavirus can survive on some surfaces for days or in the air for several hours, a study has found.
Scientists from US found that the virus that causes COVID-19 disease had similar levels of viability outside the body to its predecessor that caused SARS.
"The virus that causes coronavirus disease is stable for several hours to days in aerosols and on surfaces," the study noted.
The scientists found that severe acute respiratory syndrome was detectable in aerosols for up to three hours, up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel.
The results suggests that people may acquire the virus through the air and after touching contaminated objects.
The National Institutes of Health study attempted to mimic virus being deposited from an infected person onto everyday surfaces in a household or hospital setting, such as through coughing or touching objects.
The scientists then investigated how long the virus remained infectious on these surfaces.
The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine and carried out by scientists from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention University of California, Los Angeles and Princeton.
COVID-19 has so far killed over 6000 people and infected thousands globally. It emanated from China's Wuhan province.
