Airborne transmission of COVID-19 is a real threat, as particles from an infected person can move around an entire room or interior space and remain in the air for hours. Even after a person has left the room, the virus can still be spread if someone touches their eyes, nose, or mouth after touching a surface or object with the virus. Under experimental conditions, researchers have found that the COVID-19 virus can remain viable in air for up to three hours. This means that the risk of infection from contact with contaminated surfaces is low, but not zero.
Without cleaning or disinfection, the virus can stay on surfaces for hours to days. Since the start of the pandemic, scientists have been trying to determine how long the coronavirus is infectious when it is in the air. While there is still much to learn about this virus, it is clear that airborne transmission of COVID-19 is a real risk and should be taken seriously. To reduce your risk of infection, it is important to practice good hygiene and social distancing, as well as regularly clean and disinfect surfaces.
