Sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 to different temperatures.

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to investigate the sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 to different temperatures, to provide basic data and a scientific basis for the control of COVID-19 epidemic. The virus was dispersed in 1 mL basal DMEM medium at a final concentration of 103.2 TCID50/mL and then incubated at 4, 22, 30, 35, 37, 38, 39 and 40°C for up to 5 days. The infectivity of residual virus was titrated using the Vero E6 cell line. The results showed that the virus remained viable for 5 days at 4°C, and for 1 day only at 22 and 30°C. We found that the infectivity of the virus was completely lost after less than 12 hours at 37, 38 and 39°C, while at 40°C, the inactivation time of the virus was rapidly reduced to 6 hours. We show that SARS-CoV-2 is sensitive to heat, is more stable at lower temperatures than higher temperature, remains viable for longer at lower temperatures, and loses viability rapidly at higher temperatures.