Covid-19 can survive clothing for up to THREE DAYS – with polyester clothing that supports the virus the most, scientists warn
- De Montfort University (DMU) has added drops of a model virus on fabrics
- Survives with polyester for 3 days, cotton for 2 days and polycotton for 6 hours
- Researchers advise that all medical uniforms are washed to an industry standard
- Be warned that washing with detergent at least 67 ° C can kill the virus at home, but the virus can rub on other surfaces beforehand.
Coronaviruses similar to Covid-19 can survive in clothing for up to three days, according to new research.
Research conducted by De Montfort University (DMU) in Leicester looked at how a coronavirus behaves on three tissues commonly used in the medical industry.
Polyester allows the virus to survive infectious levels for up to 72 hours, while dying in 24 hours with 100% cotton.
However, coronaviruses can only survive with a polycotton hybrid, however, for six hours, the study found.
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Coronaviruses similar to Covid-19 can survive in clothing for up to three days, according to new research (photo in file)
The study used a coronavirus model called HCoV-OC43, which is very similar to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.
Drops of polyester, polycotton and cotton were added to see how long the virus lasted on these surfaces.
The findings are worrying, say researchers, because if the live virus sticks to the clothing of health professionals, it could be transported from the hospital and staff home and rubbed on various surfaces, allowing it to spread.
Microbiologist Dr. Katie Laird, who led the study, advised the government that all medical uniforms be washed in hospitals to commercial standards or by an industrial laundry.
Dr. Laird, head of the DMU Infectious Diseases Research Group, said: “When the pandemic started, it was very little understood how long the coronavirus could survive with textiles.
Our findings show that three of the most commonly used textiles in healthcare pose a risk for virus transmission.
“If nurses and health workers take their uniforms home, they could leave traces of the virus on other surfaces.”
Only when a detergent was used and the water was at least 67 ° C was the virus completely inactivated, but researchers say all medical uniforms should be washed to an industry standard and not taken home by staff.
Public Health England (PHE) published in 2020 instructions that the uniforms of health workers should be washed according to industry standards.
However, there is an exception to this if it is not considered possible.
The NHS says a home wash of at least 60 ° C is good and can get rid of pathogens.
However, Dr Laird warns that this NHS guidance is based on 14-year-old evidence and needs urgent review.
Researchers have tested NHS advice on 100% cotton, the most common textile material used in a medical environment.
When the virus was mixed with artificial saliva, the researchers found that the washing machines at home failed to remove the entire virus.
The virus was completely inactivated only when a detergent was used and the water was at least 67 ° C.
“Although we can see from research that washing these materials at a high temperature, even in a household washing machine, eliminates the virus, it does not eliminate the risk of contaminated clothing leaving traces of coronavirus on other surfaces in the house or car before to be washed.
“We now know that the virus can survive for up to 72 hours on some textiles and that it can be transferred to other surfaces.
“This research has strengthened my recommendation that all medical uniforms be washed on the spot in hospitals or in an industrial laundry.
These washing methods are regulated, and nurses and healthcare workers need not worry that they can take the virus home.