Plasma irradiation efficiently inactivates the coronaviruses mouse hepatitis virus and SARS-CoV-2

Many inactivation methods have been shown to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 for safe and efficient diagnostic methods. COVID-19 is caused by airborne infection of SARS-CoV-2, and therefore, methods of inactivating the virus efficiently and safely are crucial for reducing the risk of airborne infection. In this regard, the effect of plasma discharge on the infectivity of the coronaviruses mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) and SARS-CoV-2 was tested. Plasma discharge efficiently reduced the infectivity of both coronaviruses. Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 in culture medium with a plasma discharge resulted in 95.17% viral inactivation after plasma irradiation after 1 hour (hr), 99.54% inactivation after 2 hrs and 99.93% inactivation after 3 hrs. Similar results were obtained for MHV. The results indicated that plasma discharge effectively and safely inactivated the airborne coronaviruses and may be useful in minimizing the risk of airborne infection of SARS-CoV-2.