Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => COVID-19 => Topic started by: nudephil on 03/04/2020 12:02:02

Title: Does extreme temperature incapacitate this virus?
Post by: nudephil on 03/04/2020 12:02:02

This question came in from Ian,

Does extreme temperature incapacitate this virus? How about cooking? A hot soapy wash and rinse? The fridge on e.g. a cold setting for three days?

What's the latest research?

Title: Re: Does extreme temperature incapacitate this virus?
Post by: syhprum on 03/04/2020 12:14:00

I do not think temperatures have to be too extreme I have heard 70°C is sufficient but I am not an expert

Title: Re: Does extreme temperature incapacitate this virus?
Post by: set fair on 03/04/2020 13:31:34

I haven't heard anything about cold but the safest would be to assume cold would allow it to survive longer.

Title: Re: Does extreme temperature incapacitate this virus?
Post by: RD on 05/04/2020 22:36:46

(https://www.who.int/images/default-source/health-topics/coronavirus/myth-busters/web-mythbusters/mb-hot-bath.png?sfvrsn=f1ebbc_2)
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters

Title: Re: Does extreme temperature incapacitate this virus?
Post by: Bored chemist on 06/04/2020 08:53:04

Cooking will inactivate the virus.
A hot soapy wash will also do so. The heat would do so without soap; the soap would do it, even in the cold.

However, in general cold doesn't do any harm to microorganisms.
They will generally survive being frozen.