THREAD: A new Lancet paper reveal that the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is stable on surgical masks for up to 7 days! #COVID19 @Drstevenhobbs

Link to correspondence: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(20)30003-3/fulltext#coronavirus-linkback-header

Image shows highlights

The supplemental data

Other study highlights

The virus is very stable at 4°C
5 minutes @ 70°C = viral inactivation
Standard (commercial) disinfectant works against it such as bleach and Lysol.
It is stable at a wide pH range.

Now that we know SARS-CoV-2 can be found outside and inside surgical mask, one must heed to the fact that reusing masks has a downside. I say this is especially true if you live in a high risk area/state such as New York or New Jersey right now.

This is why ideally (in a non-pandemic setting) doctors should only be using surgical masks one time and throw them away when they enter a room with contact/drop warning.

As a non-medical health professional, I think if you do have surgical mask, think twice the next time you choose to reuse your mask especially where you live. You can never be to careful how you take off your mask. You can't see the virus, remember that!

I personally use surgical masks (I bought LAST YEAR) and I have reused them only twice each. Reading this paper, I'm dissuaded from doing that now. I just need to limit my time going outside (not that I go outside that often anyway).

if anything, people who are making their own cloth mask are wise - even wiser if you make multiple. Once one is used, throw it in the washer and use another one when you need to venture to the grocery store or pharmacy!

On March 17, I posted a study on how SARS-CoV-2 stability in aerosol and environmental surfaces too. The one in this thread is new. https://twitter.com/JesusChristTalk/status/1240065002704232448?s=20