Matter . All surfaces are not equal in contact transmission of SARS-CoV-2

[tetano]

Matter


. 2020 Oct 6.
doi: 10.1016/j.matt.2020.10.006. Online ahead of print.
All surfaces are not equal in contact transmission of SARS-CoV-2


Xuan Xue ¹ , Jonathan K Ball ^{2 3 4} , Cameron Alexander ⁵ , Morgan R Alexander ¹



Affiliations

• PMID: 33043292
• PMCID: PMC7538118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matt.2020.10.006

Free PMC article

Abstract

The world faces a severe and acute public health emergency due to the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Healthcare workers are in the front line of the COVID-19 outbreak response and are exposed to the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection daily. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is their main defence against viral contamination; gloves, visors, face masks and gown materials are designed to eliminate viral transfer from infected patients. Here we review research investigating the stability of SARS-CoV-2 and similar viruses on surfaces, and highlight opportunities for materials that can actively reduce SARS-CoV-2 surface contamination and associated transmission and improve PPE.