Garments tried on in shops may need to be put in quarantine before going back on sale, it has been suggested, as concerns grow over the reopening of clothing outlets.
While bacteria and viruses such as coronavirus and flu can linger on hard surfaces for days, there remains a lack of evidence on how long Covid-19 can survive on soft surfaces.
Bill Keevil, professor of environmental healthcare at the University of Southampton, says it is not yet known how long the coronavirus can live on clothes and fabrics.
Speaking on the BBC’s Radio 4 Today programme, Prof Keevil said: “The issue is now coming down to things like clothes, fabrics. Should people touch them?
“If people have washed their hands properly, you might argue that there shouldn’t be a transmission risk onto the fabrics.
“But people are now suggesting if you try on a garment and you don’t want it, that garment should be put into quarantine for several days before it’s then being put back onto the shelves.”
Prof Keevil, principal investigator at Southampton’s microbiology unit, also warned that thorough hand-washing regimes would need to become part of every day life on the high street to help stop the spread of the virus.
“They (superbug bacteria and viruses) all can survive days on a touch surface, that may surprise people,” he said. “That’s why it’s so important to wash hands and also regularly clean all touch surfaces.
“In terms of shops, when you go into a shop you’re obviously careful about trolley handles, door handles, this kind of stuff, they should certainly be kept regularly clean.”
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