Can the Coronavirus Survive on Clothes and Shoes

As cases of the coronavirus surge in over 20 US states and in countries all over the world, you might want to brush up on best practices for helping to stay safe, including what you should know about wearing a face mask and sanitizing your home. But here's another question: should you also sanitize your clothes and shoes? How long can the coronavirus survive on surfaces anyway?

To review, the coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, can spread from person to person, through respiratory droplets from a cough or sneeze or by touching an infected (usually solid) surface and then touching your face. The coronavirus can even live on some surfaces for longer than nine days. In March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found coronavirus RNA that had survived in the Diamond Princess cruise ship 17 days after the passengers had departed.

The National Institutes of Health reported in March that the coronavirus can live on plastic and stainless steel for up to three days, according to a study. However, the surviving proportion of the virus is less than 0.1% compared to the initial amount of viral material, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The likelihood of contracting the virus from your clothes is considered low, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine -- and it appears that only one study so far has shown that the coronavirus can survive on shoes. On the other hand, if you're a health care provider, it may be safest to leave your work clothes and shoes outside until they can be sanitized.

With that said, if you believe you may have come into contact with the virus, or you just want to be cautious, here's what you need to know. Note that this article provides information drawn from the...