The Rwanda Biomedical Center has revealed that the coronavirus can be retained in airborne droplets for 3 hours, however experts say it is rare for humans to produce enough in a single cough to infect another person. According to RBC, “Plastics, woods, metallic objects, glasses, skins and hides can also retain the virus between two to three days, while papers and boxes can retain the virus for a day. From this, the medical experts have urged Rwandans to avoid touching those surfaces in shared spaces and if accidently done, avoid touching your face, but thoroughly wash your hands. “These kinds of materials are in our homes, on our way to work, in shops, and every other destination. There’s a risk of contaminating these surfaces if we touch them with virus-laden fingers, and a risk we’ll contract the virus from such surfaces”, says Jean Baptiste Mazarati, Head of the Department of Biomedical Services at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre. He adds that everyone should think of hands as an enemy. “Wash them well, and much more often than usual. Between hand-washing, avoid constantly touching materials in your way and try not to rub your eyes, or touch the mouth and nose,” he recommended. After the government eased the lock-down on Monday, Mazarati urged people to try opening doors with their elbows. He also advised that offices should be cleaned and disinfected as much as possible.
