Coronavirus 'can stick to face masks for up to seven days', study found

The coronavirus can remain on the outer layer of a face mask for a week, research from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has found.

Bacteria from COVID-19 can also stick to stainless steel and plastic surfaces for up to four days, the study, published in the medical journal Lancet, said.

The report is among latest research into the stability the coronavirus and what measures can stem its transmission.

Researchers found that popular household disinfectants, including bleach, were effective in "killing" the virus.

Their work included testing how long the virus could remain infectious at room temperature on different surfaces.

"Strikingly," the researchers said, the virus was detected on the outer layer of a surgical face mask after seven days.

The finding supports advice by medical experts including the WHO that people wearing a face mask should not touch the outside of it.

They caution that if you contaminate your hands from the mask, it can easily be transferred to your face or eyes.

And it also supports widespread advice that regular hand washing can help stop infections.

On all surfaces, the concentration of the virus reduced quite rapidly over time, the study said.

When tested on stainless steel and plastic, it was present for four to seven days, while it stuck to glass and banknotes for two days but was gone after the fourth.

The bacteria lasted less than three hours on printing and tissue paper.

When the researchers tested it on treated wood and cloth, the researchers found it was gone by the second day.

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