Coronavirus: The 6 most infectious surfaces with a high risk of transmitting COVID-19, according to a study

Be it indoors or outdoors, there is no place 'too safe' from COVID risk. New researches and studies have just proven how fast and easy COVID-19 can spread from one surface onto another.

Not only is it super easy for novel coronavirus to spread from one carrier to another (or linger in the air), the virus also displays a 'robust' response when it collects on certain surfaces- like day-to-day use stuff including currency. Recent Australian research just proved how little we may be knowing about the virus's infectiousness, considering how it has the potential to transmit for days and weeks at end, in moderate temperature settings. Hence, it could be possible that anything you come in contact with right now may increase your risk of catching COVID-19. That being said, there are some surfaces which carry a higher COVID transmission risk than others, according to a new study.

Be very careful before you go touching these surfaces. Consider yourself warned:

Now that public transport systems like metros, buses are open for use, be very careful about touching high-contact surfaces while you travel. The same goes for flights. Even though social distancing norms are followed to the fullest, the poles and windows are made out of steel, glass and similar material, which can be a good place for viruses to breed in low-moderate temperature settings. Secondly, these surfaces are also touched by other travellers, which just increases the risk. Hence, travelling in public transport should require to be on your guard, at all times.

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A recent study by an Australia-based research lab facility showed that coronavirus has the potential to thrive on paper money and banknotes for upto 28 days time, in a 20-degree temperature setting. When you think of the transmission risk, just think about the number of times a single note in your hand gets exchanged and increases the transmission risk.

It should be noted that the usage of plastic notes and the paper currency has been much debated since the pandemic began, with people advising the use of no-contact payment facilities and other plastic cards.

Our cell phone screens can be the single biggest infectious carrier of bacteria, viruses and many other sneaky germs. From using our fingers on it all the time and carrying it everywhere we go - including the restrooms makes it a breeding house of germs. Hence, we must be super careful about sanitizing and cleaning away a germ-infested surface like our beloved phone. The same dangers could extend to other appliances like tablets, computers, and other screens as well.

Hospitals have stringent cleaning and sanitizing norms in place, especially in times of the pandemic. However, the one place that's the least safe is the hospital waiting room. Think about the number of times visitors throng into the room, coming from outside or go out, transmitting the germs with them. Higher the footfall, higher goes the infection risk. Hence, visiting a hospital right now may not be the best thing to do. If you must go, keep all must-have accessories, from a face mask, face shield, sanitizer, gloves with you handy.

Withdrawing money is an essential thing to do, and so is using the ATM Machine. However, the tiny cubicle can be a sneaky bed of germs. The buttons, glass screen to the closed environment, ATMs can be a risky place to visit, during the COVID-19 pandemic. It's best if you curtail unneeded visits and stick to online transactions to prevent risk. If you cannot avoid visiting it, make sure you thoroughly wash your hands and keep your mask on.

Coronavirus may not survive in high heat, but the steel appliances you use so frequently can be an easy breeding place for germs, including SARS-COV-2. After banknotes, stainless steel makes for the second most infectious place for coronavirus to rapidly linger and transmit. If you have a lot of steel appliances and storage in your house, kitchen tabletops, appliances and surfaces may need a thorough clean frequently.

A thorough deep-clean and sanitization regime done at frequent intervals can ensure that you keep your COVID risk to the minimum. That aside, if you are returning back home after doing chores, clean away any germs you might be bringing home with you. Ensure your house has a good ventilation system, which can bring in fresh sunlight and not allow COVID-19 to multiply fast.

While it is entirely impossible to completely avoid going out, a good thing to do would be to safeguard yourself from the risk at all times. This is not the time to be complacent, at all. With winters approaching, we might as well face a bigger threat of the virus looming in the air for a longer time. Avoid crowding at all costs. If you do come in contact with an infectious surface, do remember to WASH YOUR HANDS thoroughly to strip off germs.