how can you catch a cold when you’re not in contact with people

Question

Does the influenza virus just float everywhere? Can you catch a cold by let’s say walking in the woods, slightly underdressed and not making contact with any sick person?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Viruses can often survive for a while on surfaces, like the packaging of groceries, doorknobs, faucets of hand washes etc.
Vsires alot from different viruses how long and what conditions they can survive in.

Take rhinovirus for instance, a common cause of the common cold. It can survive and stay infections for about 24 hours on surfaces.