Omicron can live for 8 days! Are there high risks of infection when picking up packages or staying in hotels? Zhao Mingwei analyzes "unblocking conditions"
Will receiving a package cause infection? Omicron can survive on the surface for 8 days
It has been reported that a logistics company employee in Taiwan has been diagnosed with the disease, causing public concern that Omicron virus may remain on the surface of logistics and packages and even cause infection. Professor Zhao Mingwei from the Department of Biotechnology of Chung Yuan University said in an interview that the virus may indeed survive on the surface of items, but the “residual amount” of the virus is the key factor affecting the risk of infection, unless the confirmed logistics personnel sneezes or coughs on the package and leaves behind A large number of droplets, generally the risk is not high.
“The Covid-19 virus can survive on packages, but whether there is such a large amount of virus on the package cannot be confused with the two things!” Professor Zhao Mingwei said that the Covid-19 virus is indeed constantly mutating and developing the ability to survive on the surface of items. There is a trend of surviving longer. The earlier Alpha mutant strain can survive for about 3 days, and now the Omicron mutant strain can survive for up to 8 days. It is still very important to maintain the habit of washing hands at all times.
Is indirect infection possible? The risk is not as high as expected
Professor Zhao Mingwei pointed out that the possibility of indirect infection cannot be completely ruled out at present. If you first touch the package with your hands and then touch your mouth and nose without washing your hands and disinfecting, there is indeed a chance of infection. But the premise is that there is enough virus residue on the surface of the package. Judging from the current infection route, the risk of receiving the package is not as high as the outside world imagines. People can also spray alcohol on the inside and outside of the carton to disinfect when receiving the goods to prevent contact with germs.
“The confirmed case in Beinong last year also caused the public to worry that vegetables and fruits would be contagious, but in fact they are not!” Professor Zhao Mingwei explained that not every batch of imported seafood is tested for the virus, and the chance of diagnosis is relatively small. A confirmed case was reported at Beinong Market, and the epidemic did not spread through the transportation and sales of agricultural products. It shows that the majority of people infected with Covid-19 are still infected by droplets.
Are you worried about airborne contamination when staying in a hotel? Risk areas can be disinfected after check-in
Confirmed cases have been reported on the same floor of epidemic prevention hotels in Kaohsiung and Taipei. The risk of airborne transmission of Omicron mutant strains is worrying. Professor Zhao Mingwei believes that it is unavoidable to prevent potentially infected people from sneezing and coughing at the air-conditioning vents after moving in. When the virus concentration in a semi-closed hotel room is high, when the door is opened and closed, it will flow to the corridors and outdoors where the concentration is lower, and there may indeed be a risk of infection.
However, Professor Zhao Mingwei pointed out that there are many people staying in anti-epidemic hotels and the number of confirmed cases after screening is relatively very small. This means that the possibility of airborne infection is limited and the public should not panic too much. If you are worried that the hotel cleaning and disinfection is not complete, you can disinfect specific areas yourself after check-in, such as door handles, buttons and other contact surfaces.
Is the virus going away and the lockdown not far away? Zhao Mingwei: Wait for 1-2 more generations of virus mutation
Many people believe that most people infected with Omicron have mild symptoms, saying that the virus has become “flu-like” and that returning to normal life is just around the corner. However, Professor Zhao Mingwei pointed out that although Omicron infection is mostly mild, it has only been spread on a large scale for three months, and the sequelae of the infection are still unknown.
Professor Zhao Mingwei believes that it will still take 1-2 years for Covid-19 to become influenza, and there will definitely be new virus mutations. When the next or two generations of viruses are born and are more suitable to coexist with human society, the virus will truly Entering the “influenzaization” stage.
In this case, when can we “unblock” and return to normal life? Professor Zhao Mingwei believes that various conditions need to be met before the lockdown is lifted, including extensive scientific research proving that the threat of sequelae and side effects of the virus is weakened, and that weapons against the virus, such as vaccines and oral drugs, are effective and sufficient. Only when humans face the “pre, middle and post” stages of the virus and have complete supporting measures in place will they gradually move towards unblocking.
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