London: The virus that causes COVID-19 cansurvive on surfaces including mobile phones and banknotes for up to four weeks,according to new research.

Australia's national science agency CSIRO found that Sars-CoV-2 was "extremely
robust" at 20C or room temperature.

The study also found that the virus survived longer at lower temperatures.

Researchers said the virus survived longer on smooth surfaces such as glass and stainless
steel compared with porous surfaces such as cotton.

They also found the virus survived longer on paper banknotes than plastic banknotes.