how long does covid stay on surfaces and fabrics

(Hence why health officials are screaming at us not to touch our faces and to wash our hands.). As the stability of SARS-CoV-2 seems similar to that of the earlier SARS virus, its not clear why COVID-19 has led to a much larger outbreak. The coronavirus pandemic and aerosols: does COVID-19 transmit via expiratory particles. How To Self Isolate in a Shared House if You or Someone You Live With Has COVID-19. Researchers led by Dr. Vincent Munster of NIHs National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) studied how long the virus survives in the air and on surfaces. Remember that our water systems treat our drinking water before we drink it, which should inactivate the virus. Cleaning and disinfecting your facility. Paper and cardboard are very porous, says Dr. Esper. Dr. DelCollo is board-certified in family medicine by the American Board of Family Medicine. But it's better to be safe than sorry, right? 5B52, MSC 2094 Science Brief: SARS-CoV-2 and surface (fomite) transmission for indoor community environments. Grace Cary/Getty Images. A study out this week finds that the virus can survive on hard surfaces such as plastic and stainless steel for up to 72 hours and on cardboard for up to 24 hours. Viruses cant survive independently. (2020). People who are infected with COVID can release particles and droplets of respiratory fluids that contain the SARS CoV-2 virus into the air when they exhale (e.g., quiet breathing, speaking, singing, exercise, coughing, sneezing). Even though SARS-CoV-2 can become inactivated in hours to days, the exact dose that can lead to an infection still isnt known. And you likely already have all that you need in your home to get the job done. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. that are very smooth, like door knobs.. SARS-CoV-2 can spread easily from person to person. ', Cleveland Clinic: How Long Will Coronavirus Survive on Surfaces?, Houston Methodist: How Long Can Coronavirus Survive on Packages?, Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials: Can Coronavirus Live on the Bottoms of Shoes?, Mayo Clinic: Can COVID-19 (coronavirus) spread through food, water, surfaces and pets?, Hackensack Meriden Health: How Long Does Coronavirus Last On Clothes?, Environmental Research: Contamination of inert surfaces by SARS-CoV-2: Persistence, stability and infectivity. * Note: Temperature (68F) and relative humidity (20%) input cannot be changed for UV values greater than 0. The virus can remain active for longer: in temperatures under 20 C in relative humidity levels under 40% and above 60% Most people who develop COVID-19 symptoms improve without treatment in 2-6 weeks. The researchers report SARS-COV-2 variants are able to survive on skin and plastic more than twice as long as the original Wuhan strain. Is the coronavirus still viable when its on a surface? Accessed Feb. 23, 2022. Symptoms, which include nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea, will usually begin to appear within a day or two and then will last for about two to three days. Follow the instructions on the product. When someone with coronavirus sneezes or coughs, the droplets can fall onto a surrounding surface. Live Better With Psoriatic Disease. This is called the contact time. The new coronavirus seems to be able to survive the longest on plastic and stainless steel potentially as long as three days on these surfaces. Scientists have found viruses similar to the strain that causes Covid-19 can survive on commonly-worn fabrics for up to three days. How is the US economy doing after COVID-19? COVID-19: Cleaning and disinfecting your home. If youre unable to keep a separate bedroom or bathroom from the person with COVID-19, make sure they clean and disinfect shared spaces after each use. How COVID-19 spreads. Enveloped viruses like coronaviruses are very sensitive to conditions in the environment and can quickly lose stability over time. Clean after you've had visitors. Its a good idea to regularly clean your home to protect you and your family from viruses like COVID-19. TORONTO -- A new study has found that the novel coronavirus can survive on some forms of fabric and transmit to other surfaces for up to 72 hours in a laboratory setting. However, in general, Dr. Adalja said he doesn't believe that clothes act as a "major vehicle spread" for SARS-CoV-2. Where we succeeded, where we didn't, and what we learned. Without cleaning and disinfection, the COVID-19 virus may stay on surfaces from hours to days. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. find out how COVID boosters and vaccines could be different in the future than they are now. Aerosol and surface stability of HCoV-19 (SARS-CoV-2) compared to SARS-CoV-1. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. Its less stable on cloth, paper, and cardboard. A healthy person can then unknowingly touch those surfaces and the next thing you know the virus has gotten a free ride to wherever and whatever the person touches next. Here's What You Should (and Shouldn't) Worry About, Will Warm Weather Slow Down the Coronavirus? The droplets or aerosol particles vary across a wide . Some examples include: Clean other surfaces, objects, and clothes as needed or if you suspect theyve been contaminated. This study found that. Without exposure to sunlight (UV 0): temperature (74F to 95F) and relative humidity from 20-60%. All rights reserved. Because of this, its still important to exercise caution with potentially contaminated objects or surfaces. Food safety and availability during the coronavirus pandemic. 2020 Mar 17. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc2004973. However, it was rapidly inactivated when incubated at 70C (158F). An official website of the United States government. All rights reserved. If not frequently washed, the fabrics could help transmit the virus from patient to patient. Investigators in the NEJM article also assessed viral stability on copper surfaces. (Those mangy freeloaders!) Clean with a product that is suitable for each surface. For example, wear gloves and make sure there's good airflow in the room. Contact with contaminated surfaces and objects may also contribute to spread. However, SARS-CoV-2 is believed to mostly spread from person-to-person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Some examples of common paper products include: The Lancet study found that no viable virus could be found on printing paper or tissue paper after 3 hours. Follow the instructions on the product label. Spread of COVID-19 occurs via airborne particles and droplets. Droplets typically don't travel far no more than 6 feet (about 2 meters). https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/care-for-someone.html. The swabs did not pick up any particles of the virus. PMID: 32182409. 4 Reasons You Should Wear a Mask When Recommended, How is Coronavirus Spread? This article was originally published on April 24, 2020. Later variants alpha, beta, gamma and delta lasted for about 191, 157, 59 and 114 hours, respectively. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): How is it transmitted? Avoiding Crohn's Flares. Between polyester, a poly-cotton blend and 100% cotton fabrics, the polyester posed the greatest risk, even after 72 hours; on full-cotton samples, the virus lasted one day, while the poly-cotton blend remained contaminated by viral droplets designed to mimic human saliva for just six hours. Remember to scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, your thumbs, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails. Follow guidelines for fully vaccinated people before you welcome visitors into your home. The virus was detectable in aerosols for up to three hours. Focus on high-touch surfaces. The study found the virus can remain in the air for up to three hours, on copper for up to four. The breakthrough finding could be especially dangerous when it comes to clothing worn by health-care workers, said Dr. Katie Laird, a microbiologist and author of the study. There are steps you can take to mitigate against this. If you only have reusable gloves, don't use them for any other purposes. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Rhinoviruses, which cause colds, survive for hours. We may be able to find some viable virus after a few days, but its thousands of times less than what was originally deposited by the cough. The virus persists the longest on plastic and stainless steel surfaces. If someone in your household has confirmed or suspected COVID-19, extra precautions must be taken when washing their clothes (as well as towels and bed linens they came into contact with). In the U.S., check labels for EPA registration numbers. household cleaning products or EPA-registered disinfectants, cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cleaning-disinfection.html, hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/coronavirus-and-5-questions-about-safe-snacking, fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/food-safety-and-availability-during-coronavirus-pandemic, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7091381/, wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/7/20-0885_article, cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-covid-spreads.html, who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses, cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/water.html, How Much Time You Spend Washing Your Hands Makes a Difference, How the Novel Coronavirus Spreads in Public Places and How to Protect Yourself. Wearing a mask and regularly using hand sanitizer can also help prevent sickness, not just from COVID but from other illnesses making their rounds this winter. If you dont have gloves, just be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after youre done cleaning. The coronavirus can last on different fabrics and clothes for varying lengths of times - up to 72 hours in some cases. The information in this story is accurate as of press time. Relative humidity, temperature, and sunlight (UV) can be used to provide an estimated half-life for SARS-CoV-2 with this model with some degree of certainty. Follow the directions on the label and only use these products on surfaces that theyre appropriate for. Hussain explained that the biggest culprit is metal surfaces, such as door knobs and silverware, adding that Covid can survive for as long as nine days on these types of surfaces.. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there are currently no reports that food or food packaging is associated with SARS-CoV-2 transmission. While updated guidelines say that surface transmission is unlikely, people are still applying disinfection protocols to sanitize surfaces in homes. The viruses they compared were SARS-CoV-2: One was the virus that causes COVID-19 and the other was a similar human coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-1. Wood - 4 days. The predictive power is limited to temperature between 74-95F and relative humidity between 20-60% for a UV index of 0, and a temperature of 68F and 20% . It can also live on cardboard for up to 24 hours. Research published in The New England Journal of Medicine reveals the length of time that SARS-CoV-2the virus that causes COVID-19can live on various services: on plastic: 72 hours. Follow manufacturers' instructions for cleaning and disinfecting. The whole point of a virus is to invade a living host, hijack it and produce more virus babies. However, they did continue to find traces of the virus on certain surfaces several days later. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. Novel coronavirus (COVID-19)fighting products. Her work appears across several publications including SELF, Womens Health, Health, Vice, Verywell Mind, Headspace, and The Washington Post. Heres what this could look like, hypothetically speaking: Someone with COVID may cover their mouth while coughing and then use their hands to sort through some oranges at the grocery store, selecting some to take home. MetalExamples: doorknobs, jewelry, silverware5-9 days, Stainless steelExamples: refrigerators, pots and pans, sinks, some water bottles2 to 3 days, CardboardExamples: shipping boxes24 hours, CopperExamples: pennies, teakettles, cookware4 hours, AluminumExamples: soda cans, tinfoil, water bottles2 to 8 hours, GlassExamples: drinking glasses, measuring cups, mirrors, windowsUp to 5 days, CeramicsExamples: dishes, pottery, mugs5 days. However, when it was exposed to high heat . So what does that mean for drinking water? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The coronavirus has been found to live on some surfaces for longer than 9 days, and in one famous early case, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found coronavirus RNA that had. But it didn't spell out how long - or if - the coronavirus can live on fabric or clothing. Written by Marisa Taylor Karas | Reviewed by Preeti Parikh, MD. Gundy PM, et al. The virus doesnt like surfaces like that. Survival of coronaviruses in water and wastewater. Data from surface survival studies indicate that a 99% reduction in infectious SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses can be expected under typical indoor environmental conditions within 3 days (72 hours) on common non-porous surfaces like stainless steel, plastic, and glass 10, 11, 12, 13, 15. For all the reasons outlined above, you should not be worried about viral contamination of your hair or beard if you are practicing . This includes: Its unknown exactly how long SARS-CoV-2 can survive in water. Asadi S, et al. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-cleaning-and-disinfecting-surfaces-in-non-health-care-settings. The Sunlight and humidity, for instance, can both contribute to how long viruses are able to survive on surfaces outdoors, he noted. While researchers found that the virus can remain on some surfaces for up to 72 hours, the study didn't include fabric. After all, it might have been a couple of years since you thought about the virus in this way. Some of the most common metals include stainless steel and copper. We've received your submission. van Doremalen N, Bushmaker T, Morris DH, Holbrook MG, Gamble A, Williamson BN, Tamin A, Harcourt JL, Thornburg NJ, Gerber SI, Lloyd-Smith JO, de Wit E, Munster VJ. The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum. And to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, avoid close contact with those who are sick and stay home if you are sick yourself. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a list of disinfectants for use against COVID-19. However, there have been no documented cases of COVID-19 that are associated with food, food packaging, or drinking water. This content does not have an Arabic version. Water and COVID-19 FAQs: Information about drinking water, recreational water and wastewater. Our findings show three of the most commonly used textiles in health care pose a risk for transmission of the virus, she continued in an interview for the universitys news site. (2020). COVID-19 Coronavirus lives longer on some surfaces than others. Find out how worried infectious disease doctors say we should be about the findings of a new study. Ask that people who havent been vaccinated wear a mask inside your home. These data have been used to develop a predictive model to estimate virus decay under a limited range of environmental conditions. When doing laundry, you can use your regular detergent. A new graphic from The Wall Street Journal offers a clue as to why cloth masks might not stop the omicron variant from spreading.. If you put all of this into practice, you are truly doing what you can to best protect yourself and others. This article breaks down how long it takes to get COVID-19 test results and what you should while you're waiting for your results to arrive. The novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 may remain viable for hours to days on surfaces, according to public health experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that COVID-19 is spread in three main ways: Contaminated clothing (or other materials) is not considered a primary mode of transmission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Having these small droplets and particles that contain virus land on the eyes, nose, or mouth, especially through splashes and sprays like a cough or sneeze. Its possible that you could acquire SARS-CoV2 if you touch your mouth, nose, or eyes after touching a surface or object that has the virus on it. Accessed Feb. 23, 2022. The study by De Montfort University in Leicester tested a. Of particular interest, the Omicron variant was found to . This includes using the hot water setting on your washing machine and giving your clothes some extra time and heat in the dyer. https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/disinfecting-bleach.html. The next highest was the Alpha variant at 191.3 hours, while the Wuhan strain lasted just 56 hours. The hospitals general ward, which had people with milder cases, was less contaminated than the ICU. Type of Coronavirus. This study found that coronavirus levels dropped by 99.9 percent after 10 days in room temperature tap water. Some people even let their mail or parcels sit for a few days before opening. As the number of particles transfer to a surface, it is possible that some may be viable enough to infect a person, but it becomes less likely when there are less than a thousand particles ultimately transmitted. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that COVID-19 symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. The virus can survive for up to 72 hours on hard, shiny surfaces. For the study, scientists purposely put the COVID virus on food packaging for drinks, pastries, fruit, canned goods, drink cartons and other items. This will kill any leftover germs and lower the chance of the virus spreading. COVID is not primarily spread through surfaces, Dr. Baker says. How Long Does It Take to Receive COVID-19 Test Results? One of the reasons we think that omicron is more infectious and moves more easily from person to person is it seems to be preferentially in your nose and. A review.. COVID is spread once its viral particles reach the surface. According to a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can live in the air and on surfaces between several hours and several days. The formula below was developed in C, but has been modified in the web calculator to use F. Carlos Jasso/Reuters. Studies show that using household soap or detergent products lowers the number of germs on surfaces. You can reduce the risk of potential spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 by regularly cleaning frequently touched surfaces. These times will vary under real-world conditions, depending on factors including temperature, humidity, ventilation, and the amount of virus deposited. Be sure to throw them away as soon as youre done. Viral survival on surfaces is driven by temperature, relative humidity (RH), sunlight (UV), and matrix (e.g., bodily fluids). That means getting vaccinated and boosted, social distancing, wearing a mask in public, and washing your hands regularly, among other things. SARS-CoV-2 will survive in saliva and respiratory fluids on surfaces for extended periods of time under certain conditions. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is the most effective way to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus and lower the risk of serious illness. Here's what we know On plastic, the original Wuhan strain survived for about 56 hours. The same goes for computers, laptops, tablets and remote controls. (PDF, 9 pgs., 235 KB), https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology, An official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Many routine disinfection rituals, including the ubiquitous usage of alcohol-based hand sanitizers and the excessive use of strong cleaning products, are unnecessary, Dr. Gandhi says. Some examples of glass objects that we touch every day include: The Lancet article found that no virus could be detected on glass surfaces after 4 days. COVID-19 vaccines for kids: What you need to know, COVID-19 vs. flu: Similarities and differences. In that case, it's probably a good idea to machine wash the clothes you wore outside when you get home. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. (The Environmental Protection Agency has also put together a list of disinfectants that can help to combat the virus.). Often times, peoples hands can transport the viral particles to different surfaces, even the face, where it can enter your body through your eyes, mouth or nose. Many disinfectants need to stay on surfaces for some time to be effective. Disinfectant use and coronavirus (COVID-19). Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that over 15% of norovirus tests are coming back positive. Let it air dry. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. When the pandemic first started, there was very little understanding, and a great deal of concern about how COVID-19 was transmitted from person to person. The second study was published in The Lancet. We avoid using tertiary references. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Allow washed clothes to dry completely before putting them away. The New England Journal of Medicine recently published a study that tested how long the Coronavirus can remain stable on different kinds of surfaces within a controlled laboratory setting.. After Exposure to the Coronavirus, How Long Before Symptoms Appear? Accessed Feb. 23, 2022. And it doesnt last too long on fabric either, typically less than a day.. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Why the COVID lab leak cover-up is reminiscent of Chernobyl, How woke ideologies are upending American childhood, Bidens laughable, late-to-the-game crackdown on massive COVID fraud, Government misinfo has sparked a steep decline in the publics trust. The virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly spread by close contact with someone who has COVID-19. 99.999999%: 141.42. Lab studies have found that the virus may last on different materials for varying amounts of time. Experts suggest doubling that frequency now. A study in Emerging Infectious Diseases assessed which surfaces in a hospital were positive for SARS-CoV-2. However, a study from 2009 investigated the survival of a common human coronavirus in filtered tap water. I would prioritize wiping down high touch surfaces and surfaces in areas with a higher density of individuals at high risk of severe disease, to help protect those individuals from getting infected.. (2020). NIH Research Mattersis a weekly update of NIH research highlights reviewed by NIHs experts. If they survive long enough and come into contact with your hands or mouth, they are ultimately transferred to your mucosa, covering inside the mouth, where they then infect your body, explains Dr. Roger Seheult, MD, a medical advisor to On/Go COVID rapid test producer Intrivo, an associate clinical professor at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine, and an assistant clinical professor at the School of Medicine and Allied Health at Loma Linda University. One study from November of 2020 published in the PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases journal found that while the viable virus was present on the skin for up to four days, on clothing, the virus survived for less than eight hours. A weekly update of the most important issues driving the global agenda. On a plastic surface, it survived for as long as 193.5 hours. These results will inform future epidemiologic investigations that will be necessary to understand spread of this virus person to person, adds co-author Dr. Susan Gerber of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Just because SARS-CoV-2 is present on a surface doesnt mean that you will contract it. Study suggests new coronavirus may remain on surfaces for days, Spinal nerve healing enhanced by boost in cellular energy, Subscribe to get NIH Research Matters by email, Mailing Address: .chakra .wef-10kdnp0{margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;line-height:1.388;}What is the World Economic Forum doing about the coronavirus outbreak? Coronavirus Transmission: What You Need to Know. (2009). If the sick person is unable to clean, wear a mask and use gloves to clean and disinfect their area only when needed. Samples were collected at different time intervals, which were then used to calculate the amount of viable virus. Can temperature and humidity affect the coronavirus? But two years later, most people have stopped wiping surfaces down as often as before. (2020). FabricsExamples: clothes, linensTheres not much research about how long the virus lives on fabric, but its probably not as long as on hard surfaces. One study tested the shoe soles of medical staff in a Chinese hospital intensive care unit (ICU) and found that half were positive for nucleic acids from the virus. All Rights Reserved. Related: If You Haven't Gotten COVID Yet, This Might Be Why. We further investigated the stability of this virus on different surfaces. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Your body has defense mechanisms that can rapidly shut down an infection, so for the virus to successfully cause an infection it must overwhelm that initial step., Instead of obsessing over the lifespan of COVID on surfaces, the doctors say what would be more helpful is to be diligent about getting vaccinated and boosted. So just because the virus is detectable on a surface doesnt necessarily mean that theres enough there to make someone sick. DOI: Cleaning and disinfection for households. However, they do acknowledge that you should still be careful while handling food packaging that could be contaminated. Modeling the stability of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on skin, currency, and clothing. How long the virus survives on a given surface varies from hours to days, depending on numerous factors. Metal is used in a wide variety of objects we use every day. In terms of sanitizing, researchers also found that soap and scorching hot water at least 153 degrees Fahrenheit (67 degrees Celsius) was required to effectively clean 100% cotton fabric, which is commonly used for medical staff uniforms. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. If you're worried about libraries or book-sharing, Dr. Shaffner recommends running a disinfectant wipe it over the external surface of the book very quickly and washing hands thoroughly . In this study, a droplet containing a set amount of virus was placed onto a surface. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), Safe outdoor activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, Safety tips for attending school during COVID-19. Research suggests it lives for up to 72 hours on hard, shiny surfaces. Experts have found that viruses similar to the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 survive best on smooth, hard surfaces such as door knobs. This content does not have an English version. For more details, review our .chakra .wef-12jlgmc{-webkit-transition:all 0.15s ease-out;transition:all 0.15s ease-out;cursor:pointer;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;outline:none;color:inherit;font-weight:700;}.chakra .wef-12jlgmc:hover,.chakra .wef-12jlgmc[data-hover]{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.chakra .wef-12jlgmc:focus,.chakra .wef-12jlgmc[data-focus]{box-shadow:0 0 0 3px rgba(168,203,251,0.5);}privacy policy. Studies conducted in laboratories provide valuable information, however, thinking about conditions we experience in actual life is also important. COVID is a virus that spreads in the air. Bldg. However, under "typical indoor environmental conditions," studies have found a 99% reduction in infectious coronavirus in three days or 72 hours. According to the CDC, coronaviruses like COVID-19 can survive on surfaces anywhere from a few hours to a few days. As soon as the virus hits something thats not alive and certainly not a human, its not going to do very well.. The virus was less stable on copper, with no viable virus detected after only 4 hours. For example, in one observation from the Lancet article, SARS-CoV-2 remained very stable when incubated at 4C Celsius (about 39F). Despite the little information we have about the survivability of coronavirus on your clothes, we do know a few other helpful things. The report describes an artificial situation in which researchers smeared surfaces with virus; that is not likely to occur in real life and under the conditions of a typical grocery store visit.. On skin, Omicron lasted 21.1. Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Smoking Pot Every Day Linked to Heart Risks, Artificial Sweetener Linked to Heart Risks, FDA Authorizes First At-Home Test for COVID and Flu, New Book: Take Control of Your Heart Disease Risk, MINOCA: The Heart Attack You Didnt See Coming, Health News and Information, Delivered to Your Inbox, If Someone in Your Household Has COVID-19. If people in your household are more likely to get sick from COVID-19, clean your surfaces more frequently. You may also want to use a disinfectant in this case. If someone who is sick with COVID-19 lives with you or has been in your home within the last 24 hours, disinfect frequently touched surfaces promptly after cleaning them with soap and water.