- 211info COVID-19 Information & Resources
- General COVID-19 Information
How long does the COVID-19 “stay” on surfaces, books, etc?
Transmission of COVID-19 occurs much more commonly through respiratory droplets than through objects and surfaces. There are many factors that determine how long a virus can live on a surface outside the body. Current evidence suggest that COVID-19 may remain viable for hours to days on surfaces, depending on the surface material and ambient conditions. Cleaning and disinfecting dirty surfaces is a best practice for prevention.