A new study reveals that the COVID- 19 virus can be active for up to 28 days in a laboratory setting, Australian researchers said today (12). Researchers at Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, found that at 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) the SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) virus remained infectious for 28 days on smooth surfaces. The study was published in Virology Journal. The researchers also point out that the virus can persist for long periods of time on banknotes, cell phone screens and stainless steel. CSIRO’s research involved drying virus in an artificial mucus on a range of surfaces at concentrations similar to samples from COVID-19 patients and then extracting the virus after a month. Experiments done in controlled laboratory environments at 20, 30 and 40 degrees C showed that the survival time declined as the temperature increased. “Establishing how long the virus really remains viable on surfaces enables us to more accurately predict and mitigate its spread and do a better job of protecting our people,” CSIRO Chief Executive Larry Marshall said in a statement. However, the test was conducted in a dark environment and it was previously confirmed that ultraviolet rays can destroy the virus. COVID-19 spreads most often when an infected person itches, sneezes, or speaks. However, it has previously been confirmed that the virus can be transmitted by airborne particles.