Researchers claim coronavirus can be caught through smartphones (Picture: iStockphoto)

Smartphone users are being urged to clean their screens with alcohol wipes twice a day to stop the spread of coronavirus. Researchers claim the killer bug can survive on the flat surface for almost a week unless it is properly disinfected.

Professor William Keevil, from the University of Southampton said: ‘You could be washing your hands, but if you start touching your smartphone screen and then touch your face that is a potential route of infection.’

Another academic, Professor Peter Hall from the University of Waterloo, described smart phones as ‘petri dishes’ and told people to clean their phones once at lunch and again at dinner time.



The average person picks up their phone 2,600 times a day and uses it around 76 times, according to research by Dscout.


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Apple suggests cleaning phone surfaces with a microfiber cloth and soapy water, but health experts say alcohol wipes are better to ward off a virus.

Professor Mike Barer from the University of Leicester said any surface that has been contaminated by coughing, sneezing, or even breathing is potentially infectious.

However, the risk of catching coronavirus this way is low with human to human contact a far more likely cause.

Health officials have been saying for weeks that the public can play their part by washing their hands regularly, and Boris Johnson advised people should do so for the length of time it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice.

But despite the public health campaign, a YouGov poll suggested 54% of people have not been taking any extra steps to protect themselves.

People wearing face masks on the London Underground (Picture: PA)

Boris Johnson speaks during a news conference on the novel coronavirus, in London (Picture: Reuters)

So far, 39 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in the UK, but officials are warning that it could peak in the next few months rather than weeks, meaning the worst is yet to come

The PM today outlined how the UK will tackle the disease, with emergency measures including bringing NHS staff out of retirement, bigger class sizes in schools, travel restrictions and more working from home.

A battle plan was drawn up at an emergency COBRA meeting on Monday. It came after Boris Johnson faced mounting criticism for being too slow to act against the disease outbreak.

Globally more than 88,000 cases of the disease have been confirmed, with more than 3,000 deaths.

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UK government's coronavirus action plan Boris Johnson has revealed the government's battle plan to tackle coronavirus in the UK. The key points from the announcement, made on 3 March, are: - If police lose 'significant staff' numbers to illness, they would 'concentrate 'on responding to serious crimes and maintaining public order'.

- In a 'stretching scenario', it is possible that up to one fifth of employees may be absent from work during peak weeks.

- Everyone will face increased pressures at work, as well as potentially their own illness and caring responsibilities. Supporting staff welfare 'will be critical' for businesses. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video - The UK has stockpiles of medicines for the NHS, plus protective clothing and equipment for medical staff.

- The public can help delay the spread of the virus by washing hands with soap regularly, not spreading misinformation and relying on trusted sources. They should also ensure family vaccines are up to date and check on family, friends and neighbours. They should also check Foreign Office advice before travelling abroad and be understanding of the pressures the health service is under.

- The public will be asked to accept that 'the advice for managing Covid-19 for most people will be self-isolation at home and simple over the counter medicines'.

- If coronavirus becomes established, there will be a focus on essential services and helping those 'most at risk to access the right treatment'.

- During the mitigation phase, when the virus is much more widespread, 'pressures on services and wider society may become significant and clearly noticeable'.

- The Ministry of Defence will provide support as needed, including to essential services.

- There will be increased Government communication with Parliament, the public and the media if the virus becomes more widespread.

- All Government departments to have a lead person for coronavirus. MORE: Coronavirus UK: The answers to your top questions about Covid-19 – from the current death toll to its symptoms To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video - If the virus takes hold, social distancing strategies could include school closures, encouraging greater home working, reducing the number of large scale gatherings and closing other educational settings.

- It is possible that an outbreak or pandemic of Covid-19 could come in multiple waves.

- Non-urgent operations and other procedures could be cancelled, and hospital discharges monitored to free-up beds, with appropriate care in people's homes.

- Hospital worker shifts could be altered and leavers or retirees called 'back to duty'.

- Measures exist to help businesses with short-term cash flow problems.

- There is a distribution strategy for sending out key medicines and equipment to NHS and social care.

- This strain of coronavirus is new and people have a lack of immunity to it, meaning 'Covid-19 has the potential to spread extensively'.

- Everyone is susceptible to catching the disease and thus it is 'more likely than not that the UK will be significantly affected'.

- There could be an 'increase in deaths arising from the outbreak, particularly among vulnerable and elderly groups'.

- While most people will suffer mild to moderate symptoms, similar to seasonal flu, some will need hospital care due to pneumonia developing.

- Young children can become infected and 'suffer severe illness', but overall the illness is less common in the under-20s.

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