Research from De Montfort University Leicester in the U.K suggests that the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 can survive on textiles as well as transmit to other surfaces for approximately 72 hours. Learn how researchers discovered this and what it could mean. 

What The Researchers Did

Scientists applied model droplets of a virus called HCoV-OC43 to polyester, poly-cotton, and 100% cotton fabrics, all of which are used extensively in healthcare settings. 

HCoV-OC43 is a coronavirus that causes mild respiratory symptoms. Its structure is similar to COVID-19’s SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The same frequency of the HCoV-OC43 and SARS-COV-2 viruses has been discovered in children with respiratory symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What They Found

The team, led by microbiologist Katie Laird and virologist Maitreyi Shivkumar, monitored the fabric samples treated with coronavirus and found that after approximately three days: 

• The polyester posed the highest risk for viral transmission, as the HCoV-OC43 remained present and transmissible to other surfaces for longer than 72 hours.
• The virus remained on the 100% cotton fabric for one day.
• The viral sample on the poly-cotton fabric survived for six hours.

“When the pandemic first started, there was very little understanding of how long coronavirus could survive on textiles,” said Laird. “Our findings show that three of the most commonly used textiles in healthcare pose a risk for transmission of the virus.”

What It Means

Some experts point out that the cellular structure of a coronavirus lacks a protein necessary for the virus to survive on surfaces (as the flu virus can), but studies indicate that COVID-19 could potentially survive and remain infectious on surfaces in certain temperatures. 

While the primary path of infection is through droplets in the air, writes the CDC, people can become infected through exposure on a surface and then touching their eyes, nose, or mouth. 

As a further precaution, the U.K.’s National Health Service has recommended industrial laundering of healthcare workers’ uniforms. Laird supports that recommendation. “By taking their uniforms home, workers run the risk of contaminating their home environment, including the washing machine,” she said, “because, unlike in-house or industrial laundries, there is no segregation of laundry based on designated soiled and clean areas. If nurses and healthcare workers take their uniforms home, they could be leaving traces of the virus on other surfaces.”

For those who need to wash their uniforms at home, research shows that adding detergent and increasing the water temperature to at least 152 degrees Fahrenheit (67 degrees Celsius) can deactivate the virus. 

*Kelley, A. (2021, Feb. 24). Surprising New COVID-19 Study Finds Virus Survives on Clothing Fabric for Days The Hill.  https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/medical-advances/540354-surprising-new-covid-19-study-finds-virus

*Valian, Nasrin Keshavarz; Pourakbari, Babak; Ashari, Kosar Asna; Sadeghi, Reihaneh Hosseinpour; Mahmoudi, Shima (2021, Nov. 16). Evaluation of human coronavirus OC43 and SARS-COV-2 in children with respiratory tract infection during the COVID-19 pandemic, Journal of Medical Virology https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jmv.27460 

Much about the novel coronavirus, i.e., COVID-19, is still not fully understood. As research progresses and our knowledge of the virus increases, information can change rapidly. We strive to update all of our articles as quickly as possible, but there may occasionally be some lag between scientific developments and our revisions.