Research suggests that COVID-19 doesn't survive long on clothing, compared to hard surfaces, and exposing the virus to heat may shorten its lifespan. A study published in found that at room temperature, COVID-19 was detectable on fabric for up to two days, compared to seven days for plastic and metal. There is no research on exactly how long the virus can live on the skin or hair. Rhinoviruses, which cause colds, survive for hours.
This is why it is important to wash or disinfect your hands, which are more likely to come into contact with contaminated surfaces.
