According to the study by Australian researchers published in the Virology Journal, SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the spread of coronavirus, stays alive for up to 28 days on common surfaces like glass, stainless steel, and even banknotes at 20°C and 50% relative humidity. “The persistence of SARS-COV-2 on glass and vinyl (both common screen and screen protector materials, suggest that touchscreen devices may provide a potential source of transmission, and should regularly be disinfected especially in multi-user environments,” states the report. To come to this conclusion, the researchers conducted various experiments at 20°C, 30°C and 40°C in dark to avoid UV light. While the virus stays alive for 28 days at 20°C, it survives for 7 days and up to 2 days at 30°C and 40°C respectively. You can learn more about the process in the journal right here. Hence, if you’re in a humid area where the temperature lurks around 20°C, there is no reason why you shouldn’t sanitize your devices. Even if you’re in a relatively hot region, extra safety measures will never go in vain. If you’re looking for ways to sanitize your phone, our guide on the same will come in handy.
