To ask about germs?

[VikkiStMichael1]

Does anyone know how long germs can ‘live’ for on a surface someone has touched?

I’ve just been playing on a piano and about 5 minutes ago someone with a heavy cold was playing on it and sneezed

Will the germs have ‘died’ in a few minutes or are they still transferrable?

Sorry if it’s an obvious question.

It depends entirely on the organism. Some will die on surfaces very quickly, others can survive for ages.

Cold and flu viruses can survive on hard surfaces for up to 24 jours (possibly longer for some cold viruses, according to the NHS, but they become less infectious.)

I’d wash your hands.

Ok thank you

Germs are everywhere! The piano is the least of your worries

Be extra diligent with handwashing/use hand gel if out and about in cold and flu season but apart from that just try and relax. There is not much else you can do.

Wash your hands and don't put your hands near your face that is all you can do.

Depends what you mean by 'germs'.

The environment is full of microscopic life. Most of which is considered very boring unless you are a microbiologist (like me).

If you mean 'agents that transmit disease' then it varies considerably from one species to the next. Some bacterial spores can survive for decades, some viruses cannot survive outside the human body for more than a few minutes. Whether any of them cause you disease depends on your immune system as well as the microorganism. Whatever, the best way to avoid infection is to wash your hands before sticking them in your mouth/up your nose/in your ear etc.

The piano needs dowsed in petrol and set alight of course