# How long does COVID last in an empty space?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-covid-last-in-an-empty-space/957078>\
**Category:** The Quarantine Zone\
**Tags:** covid-quarantine\
**Created:** [January 2, 2022, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-covid-last-in-an-empty-space/957078 "2022-01-02T12:52:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\
**Post date:** [January 2, 2022, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-covid-last-in-an-empty-space/957078/1 "2022-01-02T12:52:48Z")

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My son tested positive on December 23. After five days, we let him use one of the cars to see his friends, outside, distanced, and masked, of course. I don’t think he wore his mask in the car.

Now we’re at day 10 and I’d like to get the car back. If he hasn’t been in the car for at least 12 hours, do I need to do anything to make it safe? I was going to spray some Lysol in the air and on the steering wheel and shifter. Anything else?

It’s damp and rainy here, so I don’t think I can leave it with the windows open.

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**Author:** ![Tfletch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tfletch1/32/5340_2.png) [@Tfletch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tfletch1)\
**Post date:** [January 2, 2022, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-covid-last-in-an-empty-space/957078/2 "2022-01-02T18:06:52Z")

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Any aerosols would have left the minute the car was opened or eventually settled. Most of the virus would not be viable by now, but I would wipe down any high touch areas like the handles, buttons, mirror edge, etc., in addition to the wheel and shifter, just to be on the safe side

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**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\
**Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-covid-last-in-an-empty-space/957078/3 "2022-01-03T06:11:15Z")

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From the [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/science-and-research/surface-transmission.html):

> When accounting for both surface survival data and real-world transmission factors, the risk of fomite transmission after a person with COVID-19 has been in an indoor space is minor after 3 days (72 hours), regardless of when it was last cleaned

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**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\
**Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-covid-last-in-an-empty-space/957078/4 "2022-01-03T11:48:41Z")

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Thank you both! I’ll wipe down those areas in an abundance of caution.