UH-OH: Wuhan Coronavirus Survives 5X Longer Than Flu On Surfaces, Researchers Say

Chinese health authorities believe the coronavirus, shown here, can survive on inanimate surfaces for up to 5 days. 17,000+ infections have now been confirmed worldwide.

This is truly wild — according to a new report from Global Times, the Wuhan coronavirus can “survive for five days maximum on smooth surfaces.” These survival numbers come from medical experts on China’s Health Commission. This means paper money, countertops, airplane seats and trays, bars, restaurants… all potentially vectors for the disease spreading.

Now, perhaps, we have some insight into why the Chinese shuttered all cafes, public transportation, entertainment venues, and so forth shortly after the coronavirus initially ripped through Wuhan back in December.

What bothers us here at FULCRUM is that the West is not taking similarly drastic steps, yet if the virus survives for five days without a host — about five times the survival length of influenza and other more well-known viruses — this could within days or weeks be a truly global cataclysm.

The infection models — when you factor in that the virus survives for five days, and not for 24 or 48 hours like other viruses — paint a very dark picture.

The number of confirmed infections in the United States now stands at 11, with more than half of those cases on the West Coast. The Department of Defense has made preparations for up to 1,000 people to be quarantined at military sites — the first quarantine of its kind in 50 years.

If necessary, housing availability can be expanded to 100,000 beds or more.

Stay safe, and stay tuned for more information from us here in DC. We’ll report as we get more details.

Continue reading, part 2— Wuhan Coronavirus 'Epidemic' Details Becoming More Clear