Surfaces with highest risk of contracting COVID-19

Whether you stay indoors or outdoors there is always a risk of contracting coronavirus. Studies and researchers have already proven how fast the virus spreads not just from human-to-human contact but also from one surface to another.
A new study has also proven that the virus can stay on certain surfaces for a longer time, say up to 28 days in a stretch.
Besides wearing face masks and carrying hand sanitisers before stepping out, you must also avoid touching these surfaces given the 'extremely robust' nature of the virus.

Anshika Awasthi

Currency notes

A recent study by an Australian based research lab facility has shown that the virus can stay on paper money and banknotes for up to 28 days, in a 20-degree Celsius temperature setting.
While most people are going for digital payments, there are still many places where cash is still in play and no sort of digital payment is accepted.

What you can do: Try to make maximum use of your card and digital wallet for payment. Sanitise your hands if you are required to use cash. If possible, use spray sanitiser on the notes.

Your cell phones!

Not just the paper notes, COVID-19 virus can also thrive on your phone/ laptop/ tablet screen for up to 28 days too. Using our phones all the time makes it a breeding house of germs and bacteria of different sorts.

What you can do: Besides sanitising and cleaning your hands thoroughly, you can also buy cleaners made exclusively for cleaning phone, laptop and tablet screens. This way you will be able to work on a sanitised laptop or phone while also staying safe from risk of infection.

ATMs

Wearing a mask to an ATM doesn't lessen your chances of contracting a virus. With people frequenting all the time and using the machine screens and buttons, ATMs are risky places to visit.

What you can do: Avoid unnecessary revisits and try to stick with online payment to prevent the risk. Even if you do go for some reason, do not forget to sanitise your hands and thoroughly wash it once you reach home.

Stainless steel appliances

Steel appliances you use in the kitchen can also be the breeding house for germs, even SARS-COV-2. Stainless steel, in fact, makes for the second highest infectious surface for COVID-19 to thrive and grow rapidly.

Hospital waiting rooms

Even though hospitals across places have been aggressively following the safety norms, one place which still comes under the danger zone is the hospital waiting room. From properly sanitising and cleaning hospitals, including those frequent touch points, hospitals are doing their bit to ensure that they are safe to visit.
What you can do: If you are required to go, make sure you have covered your face properly and have your hand gloves on. Face shields can also be a good option to have in case of visiting a hospital.

Windows/ glasses of public transport

Now that public transports are open for use, it becomes all the more important to take precautions against COVID. One needs to be extra cautious while travelling in metro, train, buses and flights and avoid touching frequent touch points.
What you can do: If you do need to take public transport, do carry your hand gloves and your mask to avoid the risk of infection.