Did a Kindle Give Me COVID?

Research has shown the risk of becoming infected through contaminated surfaces is low, and that COVID-19 can't survive for long on most surfaces.

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By Anisa Arsenault, Associate Editorial Director Good afternoon! This will be our last email until after Thanksgiving. From all of us at Verywell, enjoy a restful week with your loved ones. Today's Top Story Can Surfaces Transmit COVID-19? How's your Thanksgiving travel going? I planned to spend my flight from New York to Minneapolis reading. But when I turned on my Kindle mid-flight, I noticed the books were unfamiliar. I tapped between a few screens before realizing the device was registered to someone else. That's when I realized what had happened: I'd grabbed the wrong Kindle while going through security.   My first reaction: Extreme annoyance. My second: Well, what books do they have on here? And my third: There's a lot of fingerprints; Is this thing covered in a stranger's germs?   Did I just boost my risk of COVID by trying to read historical fiction about Hamlet?!   The question of COVID-19 surface transmission was a big one early in the pandemic, back when we were quarantining packages and Lysol-ing our groceries. Research has since shown the risk of becoming infected through contaminated surfaces is low, and that COVID-19 can't survive indoors on most surfaces after three days. And while I knew that, my paranoia was higher than usual sitting in the middle seat on an airplane.   All's well that ends well and I'll be reading from my own germy device soon; I connected with the Kindle owner on LinkedIn! She has mine, I have hers, and we'll be mailing them across the country to each other. Know More In controlled lab settings, researchers have been able to show the COVID-19 virus can last up to 28 days on stainless steel, vinyl, and glass surfaces when a room is 68° F. But the higher the temperature, the faster the virus dies. At 104° F—the temperature of a car on a hot day—the virus was undetectable on these surfaces after 48 hours. Feel Better Surface transmission should really be the least of your worries when it comes to catching COVID-19 on a plane. While COVID is more likely to be spread via respiratory droplets or airborne transmission, commercial airplane filters do a great job of keeping the risk low. READ MORE If COVID-19 risk has you second-guessing your holiday plans, you might ask yourself, "What would a doctor do?" To help, we sought out the perspective of healthcare providers. In a short survey, the Verywell Health Medical Advisory Board shared their comfort levels with different holiday-centric activities, from air travel to dinner parties. Train Your Brain to Reduce Motion Sickness If your Thanksgiving travel involves a road trip, maybe you're more worried about motion sickness than COVID-19. About a third of people are highly susceptible to motion sickness, and there's really not much you can do about it beyond taking medication. But researchers are working on a way to help people train their brains to fight the phenomenon. A study shows that after two weeks of completing pen-and-paper "visuospatial training tasks" for 15 minutes a day, participants cut their on-road motion sickness in half. Eventually, these types of tasks might be available in workbooks that you can buy. READ MORE Which Booster Shot Can You Get Right Now? Right now, COVID-19 booster shot eligibility is actually not that confusing. As of Friday, any U.S. adult (18+) can receive any of the three vaccine brands as a booster. The only thing that's distinct is the timing. If you initially got Johnson & Johnson, you'll need to wait until two months after your first shot to pursue any of the boosters. If you initially received Pfizer or Moderna, you're not booster-eligible until six months after your second dose. READ MORE Keep Reading   ■ Austria's National Lockdown Dampens Holiday Mood. AP     ■ Target Will No Longer Open Its Stores on Thanksgiving Day. NPR     ■ Must This Swab Go That Far Up Your Nose to Test for Covid? The New York Times More From Verywell Holiday Travel Tips for Families READ MORE How to Properly Use Hand Sanitizer READ MORE Allergy Coughs vs. COVID Coughs READ MORE   How'd we do? If you have any feedback, send us a note at   feedback@verywell.com.       You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Verywell Health newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here.   A DOTDASH BRAND 28 Liberty Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10005   © 2021 verywellhealth.com - All rights reserved. Privacy Policy