New coronavirus can persist in air for hours and on surfaces for days – study | Hacker News Reader

New coronavirus can persist in air for hours and on surfaces for days – study

reuters.com

11 pointsOJFord12 comments

Earlier discussions about this study:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22611099 (111 points/13 hours ago/102 comments)

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22561433 (78 points/5 days ago/42 comments)

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22553890 (53 points/6 days ago/40 comments)

> As part of their experiments, the researchers compared the stability of SARS-CoV-2 to that of SARS-CoV-1 under the same experimental circumstances and found similar results.

I love science for this. Instead of just guessing that they are similar an leave it at there, new experiments are done to verify hypothesis and increase our knowledge.

Right now the public is hungry for information about the virus. It's not good that most people does not understand that experts need time to gather knowledge. The more data we get the easier is going to inform the public and the better decision we will be able to take.

...and the potential for persons infected with SARS-CoV-2 to shed and transmit the virus while asymptomatic.

So anyone can be infected and spreading it and not know. And you have to assume that surface you just cleaned can be infectious for days by anybody touching it.

...can remain viable and infectious in droplets in the air for hours...

And anyone that sneezes or coughs could be created an infectious cloud that could persist for hours?

That's kind of a grim conclusion. Also, why aren't masks mandatory for everyone if you can't know you have it unless tested?

Mainstream reporting has been saying masks are only necessary to protect against being directly coughed/sneezed on by an infected person. Since the virus can remain active in aerosols it also sounds like a properly fitted mask could protect the wearer when they're anywhere in the vicinity of an infected person.

Also just because you wear a mask doesn’t necessarily mean your better protected. If you take of said mask without washing hands after you still have exposed your risk. Plus with a global shortage, it’s essential for those who are in dire need to have them then those who are just asymptomatic.

Am I the only one finding the experiment's design questionable, especially for such radical conclusions?

> Am I the only one finding the experiment's design questionable, especially for such radical conclusions?

The conclusions are not radical, they actually fit quite well with the already establish knowledge of other coronaviruses.

The article is not giving details about the experiment, so, it is hard to judge it as 'questionable'.

What is your point?

I think it is safe to call it COVID-19 instead of "New coronavirus" by now.

Fwiw, COVID-19 is the disease caused by the "2019 novel coronavirus". Afaik the most accurate and succinct way to refer to the virus itself is SARS-CoV-2.

Please someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Technically it is SARS-CoV-2 and it causes COVID19. Like HIV and AIDS.

WTF https://www.copperclothing.com/

FTW?

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