Coronavirus: Blacklight reveals how quickly virus spreads | Video

The video shows just how easily germs can spread in a restaurant – and might make you think twice about heading out as restrictions ease.

News that restrictions across several Australian states are now being lifted to allow restaurants and pubs to reopen has been met with excitement, however, this video may make you think twice about heading out this weekend.

The video by Japan’s public broadcaster NHK shows how easily coronavirus could spread in a restaurant to other patrons even if just one person was infected with the disease.

The experiment, which has since gone viral, shows 10 people going to a buffet restaurant where one person has a glow in the dark liquid put onto their hands to signify the coronavirus infection.

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The experiment saw one person apply a glow-in-dark liquid serving as an ‘infection’.

The group then goes about their meal, selecting food at the buffet and sitting down at different tables to eat.

When the lights are darkened and a blacklight is applied, it reveals the man’s coronavirus ‘infection’ has spread to countless parts of the restaurant: hands, chairs, glasses, plates, jugs, utensils, food and other people’s faces.

Hong Kong University pathology expert Professor John Nicholls told CNN that while not a scientifically sound experiment, the video showed the importance of washing hands.

“What the video demonstrated, is that it will spread to surfaces and to people very efficiently,” he said, “and I think it really highlights the need of what people have been saying about hand hygiene to stop the spread of disease.”

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The blue light showed how the ‘infection’ had spread to other diners’ hands.

States around Australia have begun relaxing lockdown restrictions after a steady decline in new coronavirus cases.

Since Monday, cafes and restaurants in South Australia have been able to seat up to 10 customers in outdoor dining areas.

From tomorrow, restaurants, pubs and cafes will be able to seat up to 10 customers for dine-in meals in NSW.

In the Northern Territory cafes and restaurants will be open for seated customers from tomorrow.

Pubs will also be able to have dine-in customers, however, alcohol can only be served with food.

It also spread to plates, faces and cutlery.

In Queensland, from Saturday regional and rural pubs and cafes can have up to 20 seated customers as long as there has been no coronavirus cases.

Last month, researches from Finland’s Aalto University released a video showing how quickly coronavirus could spread in an enclosed space if a person infected with the disease coughed.

The video used 3D modelling to show small droplets would spread in a supermarkets, with particles reaching outside the immediate vicinity of the infected person.

While the particles eventually dilute – as the amount of “viable virus” immediately decreases once it leaves the body – it can take several minutes for this to happen, meaning others can still be easily exposed.

The video from Aalto University showed how far infected droplets could spread when a person coughed in a supermarket.

“Someone infected by the coronavirus can cough and walk away, but then leave behind extremely small aerosol particles carrying the coronavirus,” Aalto University assistant professor Ville Vuorinen said.

“These particles could then end up in the respiratory tract of others in the vicinity.”

However despite initial fears that coronavirus could spread in common areas like supermarkets there have been no major outbreaks detected at these places.

Australia’s deputy chief medical officer Paul Kelly said last week it was because close and prolonged contact was the most likely way coronavirus spread.