It has been observed in the laboratory that Covid-19 can stay on surfaces for several weeks, up to 28 days. However, if it survives on the surfaces, it cannot contaminate. The virus is caught by classic airborne contamination, but not by contact with surfaces.
An epidemiological study raised the question. The results appeared in the scientific journal ACS Central Science in February, by correspondent Jessica Kramer, of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.
Researchers have looked at how this virus spreads. When coughing, particles of liquid are emitted, consisting of water and mucus. Mucus is a mixture of water and proteins, it serves to fluidify the cogs of the cells.
When this virus is expelled, it is surrounded by this mucus, in particular the protein called mucin. In contact with a surface, the water will quickly evaporate, but not the mucin! It will surround the surface of the virus – and therefore the famous Spike protein which allows the coronavirus to enter human cells –and lock it up.
When the virus is locked in this mucin, it can no longer get out, which explains why the virus on the table will not be able to spread outwards by simple contact and contaminate us!