A new study has revealed that the virus that causes COVID-19 can persist in tissues, such as clothing or upholstery, for up to three days.
Among polyester, a blend of poly-cotton and 100% cotton fabrics, polyester presents the highest risk, even after 72 hours; in full cotton samples, the virus lasted one day, while the poly-cotton mixture remained contaminated by viral droplets, designed to mimic human saliva, for only six hours.
The advanced finding can be especially dangerous when it comes to clothing worn by health workers, said Dr. Katie Laird, a microbiologist and author of the study.
If not washed frequently, tissues can help transmit the virus from patient to patient.
“When the pandemic began, very little was understood about how long the coronavirus could survive with textiles,” said Dr. Laird, a leading researcher on infectious diseases at De Montfort University in Leicester, UK.
“Our findings show that three of the most widely used textiles in healthcare pose a risk of virus transmission,” he continued in an interview on the university’s news site. “If nurses and health workers wear the uniforms home, they could leave traces of the virus on other surfaces.”
As for sanitation, the researchers also found that soap and scorching hot water (at least 67 degrees Celsius) were needed to effectively clean the 100% cotton fabric, which is commonly used for medical staff uniforms.
Normal household washing machines typically rise to about 130 degrees in their hottest environment.
The findings suggest hospital staff should refrain from wearing uniforms home, according to Dr. Laird, whose study has been sent to a research journal for publication, at awaiting peer review.
“This research has reinforced my recommendation that all sanitary uniforms be washed in situ in hospitals or an industrial laundromat,” he said. “These washing methods are regulated and nurses and health care workers do not have to worry about bringing the virus home.”