ARA Memo on Flattening the Curve – Repossessed Vehicle Processing

COVID-19: Suggested safety measures for processing repossessed vehicles

In order to help flatten the curve, ARA felt it was important to pass on information regarding how long the Coronavirus can live on different materials. This information is taken from releases from the CDC and an article on WIRED.

How long does SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, last on surfaces we touch every day?

Potentially several hours, or even days, according to a preprint published this week by researchers at the National Institutes of Health, Princeton, and the University of California, Los Angeles. The researchers exposed various materials to the virus in the lab. They found that it remained virulent on surfaces for a lengthy period: from up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two or three days on plastic and stainless steel. It also remained viable in aerosols—attached to particles that stay aloft in the air—for up to three hours. That’s all basically in line with the stability of SARS, the coronavirus that caused an outbreak in the early 2000s, the researchers note.

With this information in mind and incidences being reported of a chance that the virus is active inside repossessed vehicles, we recommend that you postpone entering a vehicle until the 4th day, even to get mileage and doing inventories.

We know this will cause operational difficulties but we believe this step is necessary to flatten the curve of the virus spreading which the CDC has stated is paramount.

We all need to do our part. I remind you to practice social distancing, wash your hands often for twenty seconds (the time it takes to hum happy birthday twice), wear rubber gloves and learn how to take them off properly, and do environmental cleaning every day following CDC guidelines.

May all of you have a blessed day. Stay safe. RELAX, this shall pass.

Be vigilant and be safe.