Experimental aerosol survival of SARS-CoV-2 in artificial saliva and tissue culture media at medium and high humidity. Issue 1 (1st January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Smither, Sophie J.; Eastaugh, Lin S.; Findlay, James S.; Lever, Mark S.
• Is Part Of: Emerging microbes & infections. Volume 9:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 1415
• Page End: 1417
• Publication Date: 2020-01-01
• Subjects: SARS-CoV-2 -- coronavirus -- survival -- aerosol -- saliva -- humidity; Medical microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; 616.9041
• DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2020.1777906
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2222-1751

Abstract

ABSTRACT: SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, may be transmitted via airborne droplets or contact with surfaces onto which droplets have deposited. In this study, the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to survive in the dark, at two different relative humidity values and within artificial saliva, a clinically relevant matrix, was investigated. SARS-CoV-2 was found to be stable, in the dark, in a dynamic small particle aerosol under the four experimental conditions we tested and viable virus could still be detected after 90 minutes. The decay rate and half-life was determined and decay rates ranged from 0.4 to 2.27 % per minute and the half lives ranged from 30 to 177 minutes for the different conditions. This information can be used for advice and modelling and potential mitigation strategies.