Christine Howe

Artist Statement:
Throughout this pandemic, many of us have gone through phases of sanitizing
everything; ​our hands, our groceries, our door handles, and in extreme cases, our family
members. But how much of this is actually necessary to prevent the spread of infection by
COVID-19, and how long does it last on certain surfaces? And of course, can you contract
COVID-19 by touching a surface with virus particles on it?
By sanitizing every surface, we are trying to prevent ​fomite transmission. ​This is a
type of transmission of a virus that requires an object, like a phone or a countertop, to
transfer the virion or pathogen to a person/host. A virus particle is passed on to a surface
when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or speaks loudly. Tiny droplets containing the
virus are sprayed out of the mouth and land on nearby surfaces, which the next passerby may
place their hand on, then touch their face, transmitting the virus.
The truth is, when it comes to SARS-CoV-2 and its resulting illness COVID-19, we
don’t really know if fomite transmission plays a large role in infection. According to
Emanuel Goldman, a professor of microbiology, biochemistry, and molecular genetics,
general studies about fomite transmission were done using much larger concentrations of
virus particles than would be seen in real life (even up to sample sizes of 107 ), so we cannot
make a very accurate conclusion using that data (Exaggerated risk of transmission by
SARS-CoV-2 fomites, NCBI). For transmission to occur, a variety of things would have to
coincide; a large enough amount of the virus would have to get onto a surface, the virions
would have to remain viable long enough for a person to touch the fomite (a contaminated
surface), and said person would have to touch their face before washing their hands.
The viability of the virus, and how long it remains so, depends on a number of factors
such as environmental temperature, humidity, and the material of the surface it rests on.
Depending on the type of surface, the virus will “survive” for varied amounts of time. For
example, it can last on plastic and stainless steel for 3 to 7 days, but on copper it can only
remain viable for up to four hours. This is because the copper penetrates a virion cell and
weakens it. It can interfere with normal cell organelle functions, weakens the membrane of
the cell, and even causes DNA damage. The rapid nature of the death this initiates makes it
unlikely that the cells will have time to multiply.The virus can last on other surfaces ranging
 Christine Howe

between these two intervals; on paper and glass it lasts up to four days, on wood for up to 2
days, and on cardboard for up to 24 hours. Good news, your Amazon packages are probably
safe!
This knowledge demands that we ask questions about how we must change
procedures and everyday actions in response to this virus. Since SARS-CoV-2 only lasts on
copper for up to four hours, should we use copper for things that are touched often by many
people, such as doorknobs? Should we reduce the use of plastic containers, since virus
particles could remain viable on it for up to 7 days? Although we do not know for sure the
risk of fomite transmission, we can always be on the lookout for ways to prevent any
possible spread. These changes in practice could help prevent infection along with washing
your hands, wearing a mask, and practicing social/physical distancing.
I created this multimedia, 20” by 16” collage to provide information about
SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 in an interesting and understandable way. This “at a glance”
comparison of the viability of this virus on different surfaces is an artistic representation of a
scientific public health topic. The representative images of possible contaminated surfaces
and small amounts of text describe how long this virus can last on those surfaces. I hope that
this art piece will help the general public grasp the science behind coronavirus transmission
through fomites, helping to improve public health and dispel fallacies, myths, and
misunderstandings. The moral of the story is, don’t lick your plastic take-out containers from
the sushi place!
 Christine Howe

Works Cited

https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/transmission-of-sars-cov-2-implications-fo
r-infection-prevention-precautions#:~:text=Despite%20consistent%20evidence%20as%20to,can
%20transmit%20this%20way

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1828811/

https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200903/coronavirus-on-surfaces-whats-the-real-risk

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7333993/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/expert-answers/can-coronavirus-spr
ead-food-water/faq-20485479

https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-does-coronavirus-last-on-surfaces#different-surface
s

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32182409/#&gid=article-figures&pid=figure-1-uid-0

https://www.metalsupermarkets.com/how-long-does-covid-19-live-on-copper-surfaces/
 Christine Howe

Collage Image Links

https://earth911.com/business-policy/business/plastic-crisis-is-here/

https://www.pngitem.com/middle/mbhiTJ_plastic-bag-png-transparent-png/

https://www.acmeplastics.com/what-is-hdpe

https://www.plasticpackagingfacts.org/plastic-packaging/plastic-packaging-by-industry/

https://alltopstartups.com/2020/08/17/everything-you-need-to-know-about-stainless-steel-and-its-business-applications/

https://www.wayfair.com/kitchen-tabletop/pdx/birch-lane-morgan-flatware-1810-stainless-steel-flatware-set-bl3294.html

https://www.stocksy.com/2234231/seamless-photo-of-plastic-objects-in-order

https://www.overstock.com/Jewelry-Watches/Stainless-Steel-Intertwined-Triple-Band-Ring/10539954/product.html

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Defiant-Brandywine-Stainless-Steel-Bed-and-Bath-Door-Knob-T8610B/304966128

https://industryeurope.com/future-mega-trends-to-increase-copper-demand/

https://www.etsy.com/listing/173352798/1000-us-copper-pennies-dated-1959-1982

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/19/copper-prices-could-fall-further-amid-the-coronavirus-crisis.html

https://copperalliance.org/benefits-of-copper/

http://excelfoodmart.com.au/product/white-paper/

https://www.cellmark.com/paper/

https://www.amazon.com/Colored-Crafting-Decorating-Sheets-Different/dp/B07PRJNXD9

https://11x17.com/paper/wausa-22653-lq/

https://www.glassonweb.com/news/glass-trade-fair-glass-reality

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/432978951661162927/

https://zenartdesign.com/product/sea-glass-wooden-jigsaw-puzzle/

https://www.amazon.com/Broken-Tempered-Glass-Craft-Projects/dp/B01N3LD9MP
 Christine Howe

http://bgfons.com/download/1000

https://www.amazon.com/EcoSwift-Corrugated-Cardboard-Filler-Inserts/dp/B00YGPZOQU

https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-4061/Corrugated-Boxes-200-Test/6-x-6-x-4-Corrugated-Boxes

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/a20705861/kinds-of-wood-not-to-burn/

https://thepaintpeople.com/painting-101/preparing-bare-wood-for-painting-or-staining/

https://www.pexels.com/search/wood%20texture/

https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-and-black-cloth-1555199/

https://www.pexels.com/photo/blank-close-up-crumpled-crumpled-paper-479453/

https://www.pexels.com/photo/grey-meta-frame-2610319/