[math-fun] Alive or not

Some weeks ago I had occasion to correct someone for noting that SARS-CoV-2 lives on surfaces for however-many days. "Of course viruses are not technically alive," I suggested. Since then, every doctor and health professional on TV has used the same "lives on surfaces" that I disparaged! Just English usage I thought to myself. Randall Munroe has now added to my dismay by placing viruses on the "alive" side of his latest xkcd: https://xkcd.com/2307/ I'll counter with the excellent recent Kurtzgesagt on the topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QImCld9YubE