Coronavirus could survive on shoes for up to 5 days, with footwear more likely to carry covid-19 if worn in populated areas like public transport, airports, and supermarkets, infectious disease specialists warned.
Soles of the shoes are the main breeding ground for viruses, fungi, and bacteria but respiratory droplets from an infected person can still land on the upper parts of a shoe.
Because soles are usually made from synthetic and durable materials, they do not allow moisture, liquid or air to pass through.
In an interview with the Huffington Post Australia, Dr. Georgina Nanos said the likelihood of shoes carrying coronavirus increases if it has been worn in busy areas like trains, airports, shopping centers, offices, and buses.
Health advisor Dr. Mary Schmidt also agreed and said studies on materials related to shoe fabrics have shown coronavirus could survive on synthetic surfaces for ‘5 days or more.’
Kansas City public health specialist Carole Winner supported these claims and said footwear with plastic or any other synthetic materials can carry viruses for days.
She also advised people to leave shoes in garages or inside the front door.
In an interview with HuffPost, Ms. Winner said: “The idea is to just not to track them throughout the house.”
Footwear made from faux leather, soft fabrics, or canvas should be cleaned in the washing machine while heavy-duty work boots or leather shoes should be cleaned with disinfectant wipes.
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Replaced!