How high is the risk to infect on surfaces with SARS-CoV-2?
There is much confusion currently over the risk of contaminated surfaces with the new Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 to infect. Some studies demonstrated already in the laboratory conditions, the Virus is able to survive on certain surfaces, but how this behaves under real-world conditions? The virologist Professor Hendrik Streeck sees on the basis of his research there is no risk of infection via surfaces.
In addition to Professor Dr. Christian Drosten, Professor Hendrik Streeck is probably currently the most famous virologist in Germany. Of top young researchers to be known as the successor of Drosten the Post of Director of the Institute for Virology at the University clinic in Bonn, Germany. He goes on with his Team, things are a little different. While many of the Virological and virologists work mainly in the laboratory, gathers the Team around Streeck data from the immediate environment in the high risk area of Heinsberg and leads to amazing results.
Was overvalued, the risk of surface infection?
It is now clearly demonstrated that SARS can spread CoV-2 via droplet infection. Aerosols are released during coughing, Sneezing and Talking can contain infectious germs, the Virus from one person to another skip. In the last few weeks has often been warned about contaminated surfaces such as doorknobs. About the actual risk, on a surface to infect, little is known.
Researchers to Streeck’s go to the epicenter
At this point, researchers put the end to Professor Streeck, in order to examine how the Virus behaves under normal conditions – and where it is most in Germany in Gangelt in the district of Heinsberg. The 40-member science team interviewed patients directly on the spot. In addition, data and samples will be collected directly on-site.
New basis for meaningful action to create
“In the district of Heinsberg was there earlier than all other places in Germany, a large number of people infected with the Corona Virus,” explained the Prime Minister, Armin Laschet in a press release to the project. From here, important insights for the whole of Germany could be. The Kreis Heinsberg could serve as a research example and a model region to find out which measures are appropriate to protect the citizens optimally. At the same time could also be explored, which of the measures taken from the virological and epidemiological point of view, are actually useful, so Laschet.
The research project started already on Monday, the 30. March 2020 and is created for a period of four weeks. Funded is funded is the study of the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia. For attention-the project caused mainly by an appearance of Professor Streeck in the Talkshow of Markus Lanz on the 31.03.2020. Here’s the virologist, gave his assessment to different risks of infection.
Streeck: “We have no living Virus of any surface.”
Among other things, Streeck of preliminary investigations that have taken place in Heinsberg reported. Here, swabs were taken in houses of infected people. Many of the common surfaces have been taken into account, including doorknobs, phones, toilets and sinks. In the laboratory, the smears were then examined. The Virus could be demonstrated, it was only the dead RNA. “We were in a household where a lot of highly infectious people have lived, and yet we have no living Virus of any surface,” says Streeck. These and other findings will now be used in the research work deepens.
Professor Drosten comes to a similar evaluation
Also Steecks colleague, Professor Dr. Christian Drosten expressed in a NDR Podcast that corona virus against drying are extremely sensitive. He also comes to the conclusion that the Transfer on surfaces play only a small role. An official all-clear, there is not on the part of the University hospital of Bonn, however. More details on this will show the results of the Heinsberg-study in the coming weeks. (vb)
Also read: Coronavirus Transmission: a study on German patients, provides comprehensive findings.