Researchers: COVID Can Survive High Temperatures

The Jerusalem Post reports:

The novel COVID-19, despite previous suspicions, is capable of surviving prolonged exposure to high temperatures, according to a study by the University of Aix-Marseille in France, led by Professor Remi Charrel and Boris Pastorino.

In the experiment, scientists found that typically hot temperatures of 60° Celsius (140° Fahrenheit) used to disinfect research labs are ineffective against the coronavirus. Instead, the pathogen may only be killed in a maintained temperature of 92° C for 15 minutes.

The team noted that in samples with smaller loads of the virus, the 60° C should be enough to deactivate it, but in cases with larger loads of infection, the near-boiling point is necessary. The researchers concluded that using chemicals rather than heat to disinfect would be the best way to go.