Recently declared by WHO as a pandemic [1], COVID-19 is a new strain of coronavirus that affects your lungs and airways causing mild to severe symptoms in those affected.
With the number of those affected by this disease on the rise worldwide, let’s discuss the answer to one of the main questions on everyone’s mind: How is coronavirus spread?
How Is Coronavirus Spread?
It’s important to keep in mind that COVID-19 is a new disease and we’re all still in the learning phase of knowing how it spreads, as well as the extent it may spread.
At the moment, it’s believed that coronavirus is mainly spread through person to person contact [2]. This usually means contact between people who are within about 6 feet (2 metres) of each other, and through respiratory droplets that come from an infected person who coughs or sneezes [3].
If you don’t have symptoms, can you spread the Coronavirus?
CDC notes that people are thought to be most contagious when they're showing symptoms - this means people are most likely to spread the virus when they're at their sickest [4].
Nevertheless, it might be possible to spread the virus before symptoms begin to show [5]. Though this isn’t believed to be the primary way the virus spreads, it might be possible - this is why it’s so important to practice good health and hygiene at all times.
Can you catch the virus from surfaces?
If the virus is present on a surface or object it may be possible to contract the virus [6].
Be sure to clean frequently touched objects and surfaces regularly with an alcohol based cleaner, also avoid touching your mouth, nose or eyes after touching a potentially contaminated surface before washing your hands thoroughly or applying hand sanitizer.
How easily does the Coronavirus spread?
In many regions the COVID-19 now seems to be spreading through communities without people being able to identify how or where they came in contact with an infected person. This is called ‘community spread’. This means people in a specific area that have confirmed cases of the virus seem to be becoming infected at a continuous rate [7].
Of course, we need to keep in mind that the rate a virus spreads between people is commonly known to vary and we can all do our part to stop the spread of the virus by practicing good hand hygiene and social distancing.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, stay at home and call your healthcare provider for medical advice as soon as possible.
It’s crucial to follow some simple steps in order to avoid contracting the Coronavirus, these steps include [8]:
- Clean your hands, carefully and often
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Stay home if you’re sick
- Cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow or a tissue, not your hands
- Wear a facemask if you’re sick
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces regularly
References
- World Health Organization. WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 - 11 March 2020. Online: Who.int, 2020
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How COVID-19 Spreads. Online: Cdc.gov, 2020 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How COVID-19 Spreads. Online: Cdc.gov, 2020
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How COVID-19 Spreads. Online: Cdc.gov, 2020
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How COVID-19 Spreads. Online: Cdc.gov, 2020
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How COVID-19 Spreads. Online: Cdc.gov, 2020
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How COVID-19 Spreads. Online: Cdc.gov, 2020
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing COVID-19 Spread in Communities. Online: Cdc.gov, 2020
