UArizona developing lost-lasting virus protection

Surface disinfection to last several weeks

KGUN9 WANTS TO HELP YOUREBOUND BACK TO A NORMAL LIFE-- OR MAYBE A BETTER ONE THANBEFORE THE CORONAVIRUS --TURNED LIFE UPSIDE DOWN.

9 ONYOUR SIDE'S CRAIG SMITHREPORTS -- UNIVERSITY OFARIZONA RESEARCHERS ARE NOWWORKING ON A WAY TO KEEP YOUSAFER -- FROM THE VIRUS -- ASYOU RETURN TO PLACES -- WHEREJUST A TOUCH -- COULD INFECTYOU.:04 "ONE OF THE THINGSAFFECTING OUR ABILITY TOREBOUND IS OUR CONFIDENCE WHENWE GO OUT IN PUBLIC PLACES.ARE WE CONFIDENT, THE THINGSWE TOUCH HAVE BEEN ADEQUATELYCLEANED?

THERE'S A U OF APROGRAM FOR A LONG TERMSOLUTION." :18 RUNS :14 ONE OFTHE TRICKIER QUESTIONS ABOUTCOVID-19 IS HOW LONG IT CANLIVE ON SURFACES WHERE YOUMIGHT PICK IT UP WITH JUST ATOUCH.

THERE ARE DISINFECTANTSTHAT RELIABLY KILL THE VIRUSBUT FRESH VIRUS CAN LAND INTHE SAME SPOT AS SOON ASSOMEONE TOUCHES IT.

3:08 "YOUKNOW, EVEN THE UNIVERSITY OFARIZONA, BECAUSE WE HAVECLASSES COMING IN OUT IN THESAME ROOM, YOU CAN'T AFFORD TODISINFECT THE CLASSROOM EVERYTIME A NEW CLASS COMES INTHERE.

3:16 :08 SO DOCTORCHARLES GERBA AND A TEAM OFRESEARCHERS AT U OF A AREWORKING ON A LONG LASTINGDISINFECTANT THAT CAN STICK TOA SURFACE AND KILL CORONAVIRUSFOR TWO WEEKS OR MAYBE MORE.IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR PLACESLIKE MASS TRANSIT OR SHOPPINGMALLS PACKED WITH PLENTY OFPEOPLE TOUCHING AND MAYBELAYING DOWN FRESH LAYERS OFVIRUS.

TESTING INCLUDES MAKINGSURE THE COATING DOESN'T RUBOFF RIGHT AWAY IN THE WEAR OFDAILY LIFE.

3:54 THESE SURFACECOATINGS ARE TESTED.

OVERTIME, WE MAY RUB THE SURFACESMANY 30 TIMES OR IF IT'S LIKECLOTHING YOU WASH IT 30 TIMESTO MAKE SURE THE PRODUCT ISSTILL THERE.

IT'S GOT TO BERESILIENT." 4:08 DR GERBA SAYSIN TESTS, THE COATING DID AGOOD JOB REDUCING THE VIRUS INHOSPITALS.

HE SAYS IT SHOULDBE AVAILABLE SOON TO HELP KEEPOUR HANDS-ON HABITS FROMMAKING US SICK.

6:16 A HUNDREDYEARS AGO WE WERE FARMERS.

WEWERE OUT IN THE FIELD ALL FOTHE TIME.

NOW WE'RE INSIDEPUSHING BUTTONS, BANKINGMACHINES, TELLERS , INDOORCOMPUTERS, CELL PHONES.

YOU'RETOUCHIUNG MORE SURFACES THANANY GENERATION IN HISTORY THANAN INDIVIDUAL HAS EVER TOUCHEDBEFORE." 6:33 CRAIG SMITH,KGUN9 ON YOUR SIDEIF YOU HAVE A REBOUND ARIZONASTORY TO SHARE -- LET US KNOW