How COVID-19 Spreads
Basically, COVID-19 spreads like the flu. Although the first human cases of COVID-19 likely resulted from exposure to infected animals, infected people can spread SARS-CoV-2 to other people.
How COVID-19 spreads
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person- to-person, including:
- Between people who are in close physical contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
- Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object infected with SARS-CoV-2. However, the CDC does not consider this a primary transmission route. Risk assessment studies estimate the risk of surface transmission is less than 1 in 10,000. Using soap or detergent is considered acceptable in reducing risk unless confirmed cases of COVID-19 was present within the past 24 hours. In such cases, the CDC recommends disinfection.
People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (i.e., experiencing fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath). Some spread might be possible before people show symptoms; there have been reports of this type of asymptomatic transmission with this new coronavirus, but this is also not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.
Although the United States has implemented public health measures to limit the spread of the virus, it is likely that some person-to-person transmission will continue to occur.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-3. The coronavirus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person _____.
You forgot to answer the question!