WEBVTT

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(siren wails)

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<v ->It's one of the deadliest pathogens the world has faced</v>

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in the last 100 years.

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Trying to crack the Corona virus code

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is now the top priority at Fort Detrick, Maryland

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in the Homeland Security biodefense center.

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Behind these doors,

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one of the most secure labs in the country.

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Researchers in full biohazard suits

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now working to understand how the coronavirus spreads

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and infects so easily.

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I asked senior research scientist, Paul Dabisch

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about the pressure knowing so many people have already died.

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<v ->It's very great,</v>

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like we are working around the clock because of that,

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to try to answer questions

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that we're being asked about this virus,

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and hopefully those results can help to inform

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our response to this,

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and we know the clock is ticking on this.

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<v ->Among the most urgent questions,</v>

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how long does the virus hang in the air

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and remain infectious?

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In this aerosol chamber,

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researchers recreate the sunlight, heat and humidity levels

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for any climate in the country,

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from New York in springtime to Arizona's deserts

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to Florida's beaches.

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If the virus can remain airborne,

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it could potentially spread more easily

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through hospitals, prisons, meat packing operations,

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schools and nursing homes.

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<v ->We're most concerned about the really small droplets</v>

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that you can't see,

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because those are the ones that get down

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deep into your lung,

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and for most infectious agents,

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that's when you get the worst possible infection.

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<v ->Those could be deadly?</v>

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<v ->Those could be deadly.</v>

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<v ->Droplets smaller than a human hair.</v>

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Researchers already know the virus can survive on cardboard

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for 24 hours,

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plastic and steel for three days,

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glass for four days.

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Last month, this lab announced

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that common household disinfectants

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can quickly kill the virus,

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but another critical discovery received less attention.

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The pathogen does not survive well in direct sunlight

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and at certain humidity levels.

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<v ->We have found so far</v>

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is that sunlight seems to be very detrimental to the virus.

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And so within minutes,

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the majority of the virus isn't activated on surfaces

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and in the air in direct sunlight.

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<v ->That could mean the virus would die quickly</v>

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on anything left outside,

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from playground equipment to backyard furniture,

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to shopping carts.

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It's not clear whether sunlight kills the virus on skin.

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<v ->Our preliminary results say yes,</v>

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that the sunlight on plastic

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will inactivate the virus very quickly.

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<v ->Potential good news for anyone anxious to get outside.</v>

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Researchers say the fact that this virus dies quickly

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in direct sunlight,

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but can live for days on surfaces inside,

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could directly affect

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how Americans live and play this summer.