Why sports kit is a low virus risk
CHANCES OF TRANSMISSION FROM CONTACT INVESTIGATED
THE transmission risk of Covid-19 from sports equipment is likely to be low, experts have concluded.
Academics from Imperial College London and Loughborough University said there was a greater risk of passing on the virus from player interaction.
Dr Thomas Edwards, who led the technical work, said: “We found a rapid loss of viral load on the equipment after a short period of time, making it unlikely that shared equipment is a major risk for transmission of Covid-19 during sporting activities.
“The major risk of transmission during team sports is more likely to be during player interaction, either in transport, during play or socially before and after the game, and infection control measures should be focused on these areas.”
Andy Harland, professor of sports technology at Loughborough, said: “Sport plays such an important role in many people’s mental and physical wellbeing but has inevitably been interrupted during the pandemic.
“The opportunity to engage in research into risk of virus transmission via sports equipment was something we were pleased to support and hope the results can assist sports administrators and individuals to make informed decisions when returning to play.”
The team found that recoverable SARS-CoV-2 virus reduced dramatically over a very short period, with the mean recoverable virus less than 1 per cent after one minute across all materials tested.
The type of material had a significant effect, with less virus transferred from porous materials, such as leather, than plastics. ■ Academics are looking at ways arts and culture organisations can be helped to adapt to the challenges of moving their work online.
Dr Adrian Leguina, of Loughborough University, said: “Since the global spread of Covid-19, video streaming has emerged as perhaps the most popular and effective tool for maintaining access to arts and culture.
“From live-streamed performances, through online film festivals, to guided tours of galleries, online video has helped physically sited arts and culture institutions stay open and provided lockeddown audiences with desperately needed opportunities for cultural engagement and shared experience.
“The lessons being learnt through current crisis-driven innovations could help ensure the survival of arts and culture organisations.
“The project will compile a repository of best practice and research how digital programming can widen access to arts and culture.”
The type of material had a significant effect, with less virus transferred from porous materials, such as leather, than plastics.