Abstract
We analyzed the differences in viral environmental stability between the SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan strain and all variants of concern (VOCs). On plastic and skin surfaces, Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants exhibited more than two-fold longer survival than the Wuhan strain and maintained infectivity for more than 16 h on skin surfaces. The high environmental stability of these VOCs could increase the risk of contact transmission and contribute to their spread.
Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.
Copyright
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Posted January 19, 2022.
Differences in environmental stability among SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern: Omicron has higher stability
