Can COVID-19 survive on my phone?

Can COVID-19 survive on my phone?
Illustration by Peter Hamlin

Can COVID-19 survive on my phone?

Yes. That's why a daily wipe down of "high-touch" surfaces like phones, keyboards and is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A scientific test shows the virus can live on plastic or stainless steel for two to three days.

To clean your phone, first turn it off and unplug it from cables. Tech companies say you'll want to avoid getting moisture inside the phone so don't put it into cleaning solutions or spray it directly.

You can gently use , like Clorox wipes, or anything with 70 percent alcohol to clean your device. Phone carrier AT&T recommends wringing out disinfectant wipes before using them on a phone. Paper towels work, too, if you spray them with disinfectant. Google says you can dip a cloth in soap and water to clean off your phone.

© 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Citation: Can COVID-19 survive on my phone? (2020, May 7) retrieved 3 May 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-05-covid-survive.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

4 shares

Feedback to editors