New Delhi: A study by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay said coronavirus may survive longer on impermeable surfaces like glass and plastic.
The research suggests that the virus can survive for four days on glass, and seven days on plastic and stainless steel. However, the virus survived for only three hours and two days on paper and cloth, respectively, the researchers said.
It said the dreaded virus survives far less time on porous surfaces such as paper and clothes. The study, published in the journal Physics of Fluids, said the researchers analysed the drying of droplets on impermeable and porous surfaces.
They found that a droplet remains liquid for a much shorter time on a porous surface, making it less favourable to the survival of the virus.
Study author Sanghamitro Chatterjee from IIT Bombay said the hospitals are recommend that furniture made of impermeable material, such as glass, stainless steel or laminated wood be covered with porous material such as cloth to reduce the risk of infection upon touch.
The study also suggests that seats in public places, such as parks, shopping malls, restaurants, and railway or airport waiting halls, could be covered with cloth to reduce the risk of disease spread.