Eyes Are Important Covid-19 Route: HKU Study

A study by the University of Hong Kong has found that the eyes are an important route of infection for the new coronavirus to enter the body.

Laboratory tests revealed that the "virus level" of Sars-CoV-2 – the strain of coronavirus that causes Covid-19 – was far greater than for Sars in the upper respiratory airways and conjunctiva, the cells lining the surfaces of the eyes.

The team, led by Dr Michael Chan from HKU's school of public health, published their findings in the latest issue of The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.

The tests revealed that the level of infection for Covid-19 is comparable to what was observed in the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, and that it also explains the higher transmissibility of this virus compared to the one that led to the Sars outbreak.

The study reinforces earlier advice to people not to touch their eyes when in public areas, and that washing hands with soap and water or alcohol rub is essential in order to prevent the accidental transfer of the virus.

In a previous study, the team discovered that Sars-CoV-2 can remain alive for as long as seven days on plastic and stainless steel surfaces.

Hong Kong has so far recorded 1,044 Covid-19 cases.