Newspapers not Covid-19 carriers,confirms WHO

Team Udayavani, Mar 24, 2020, 11:32 AM IST

Amid the Coronavirus outbreak, various rumours of the spread of virus have been making the rounds. Infact, over the past week, there have been whatsapp messages stating that newspapers can be avenues of infection. But, it has now been deemed safe to receive packages such as newspapers, even from areas which have reported cases of COVID-19.

WHO states that, “The likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is low and the risk of catching the virus that causes COVID-19 from a package that has been moved, travelled, and exposed to different conditions and temperature is also low”.

America’s Centre for Disease Control also said that coronavirus has a very low risk of spreading, newspapers due to the “poor survivability of these coronaviruses on surfaces”.

Covid-19 spreads from person to person among close contacts and, there are no evidence that suggests the virus is airborne and hence may be infecting surfaces.

Renowned heart surgeon Devi Shetty said that, “The virus cannot sustain for longer periods. Right now, there is no evidence that the virus can survive on surfaces, for that mutation should happen. It will take a long time and will require infection getting spread to huge number of people”

Hence, there is no need to panic and it is advised not to believe any such fake whatsapp forwards regarding Covid-19. There are official websites and helpline numbers which one can opt for genuine information about the virus.