Evaluation of the Survivability of SARS-CoV-2 on Cardboard and Plastic Surfaces and the Transferability of Virus from Surface to Skin

Objective: To 1) characterize the decay curve of infective SARS-CoV-2 over time on surface cardboard packaging and plastic mailer packaging; 2) transferability virus-inoculated to skin. Methods: We inoculated samples with a titer > 106 TCID50/ mL evaluate survivability skin (pig skin) time. A cell culture-based infectivity assay (TCID50) was used determine viral titers. Regression analysis curves. Results: The that remained transferable reduced both substrates compared total survivability, though demonstrated substantially larger reduction. Virus continued transfer virus after 7 hours holding regression predicts this would remain detectable up 9.5 Inoculated at 15 minutes time, but no viable could be detected 30 Conclusions: type material as substrate modifies potential for fomite transmission. use materials limit transmission from should considered among strategies reduce SARS-CoV-2. Future research investigate generalizability these findings other pathogens potentially transmit via fomite.