Here's why you need to be extra careful about your footwear during the Coronavirus outbreak!
| Mar 30, 2020, 11:21 IST
At this point, the entire world is aware of the coronavirus outbreak and its deadly effects. So many people across the globe have been affected and so many others have unfortunately succumbed to the illness. Every day more news about the virus surfaces and experts warn people to take precaution accordingly. The latest news to come up now is that the virus can survive on soles of rubber, leather and PVC for over five days or more, experts suggest.
This honestly isn't even that much of a surprise given the virus' ability to stick to inanimate objects like plastic, cardboard, wood and even metal surfaces. So, naturally, shoes aren't an exception here. In fact, as the experts say, shoes are a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. This is why the experts are suggesting that people should opt for machine wash footwear for the time being.
Apparently, the virus can also stick to the upper part of the shoes depending on the material they're made of. Even shoes made of plastic are dangerous because the virus can thrive on plastic for at least 2-3 days. A physician spoke about this and said, “The sole of the shoe is the breeding ground of more bacteria and fungi and viruses than the upper part of a shoe.” Adding that many of these microorganisms “influence and allow us to develop immunity.”
Another expert claims that people with young children need to be extra cautious about such footwear. “You have to hide the shoes from small children to ensure they don’t touch them. Teach them not to touch shoes unless they are designated indoor shoes, as shoes are the dirtiest objects we have in our homes, other than the toilets.”
However, another expert claims that there is still no particular information that suggests the virus can be brought into our houses due to our shoes. She said, “There is no evidence to say that the coronavirus comes into the house from shoes. Pragmatically, they are on the body part furthest from our face, and we do know that the greatest risk of transmission is person to person, not shoe to person.”
This honestly isn't even that much of a surprise given the virus' ability to stick to inanimate objects like plastic, cardboard, wood and even metal surfaces. So, naturally, shoes aren't an exception here. In fact, as the experts say, shoes are a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. This is why the experts are suggesting that people should opt for machine wash footwear for the time being.
Apparently, the virus can also stick to the upper part of the shoes depending on the material they're made of. Even shoes made of plastic are dangerous because the virus can thrive on plastic for at least 2-3 days. A physician spoke about this and said, “The sole of the shoe is the breeding ground of more bacteria and fungi and viruses than the upper part of a shoe.” Adding that many of these microorganisms “influence and allow us to develop immunity.”
Another expert claims that people with young children need to be extra cautious about such footwear. “You have to hide the shoes from small children to ensure they don’t touch them. Teach them not to touch shoes unless they are designated indoor shoes, as shoes are the dirtiest objects we have in our homes, other than the toilets.”
However, another expert claims that there is still no particular information that suggests the virus can be brought into our houses due to our shoes. She said, “There is no evidence to say that the coronavirus comes into the house from shoes. Pragmatically, they are on the body part furthest from our face, and we do know that the greatest risk of transmission is person to person, not shoe to person.”