How is Covid 19 spread?

It is now thought that the spread of Coronavirus occurs mainly through close contact from person-to-person with proximity, length of exposure and the indoors each increasing probability of transmission.

The role of people who have COVID-19 but are without symptoms is not fully determined but it is believed that they may in some cases be able to spread the virus. What we do know is that the size of the exposure can be a determinant of the severity of the disease in individual patients in addition to other risk factors (such as number and severity of health problems)

In spreading from person to person the mechanism is:

Respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks can enter the lungs of uninfected individuals and pass the disease as the droplets land in the mouths or noses of people nearby- additionally the droplets may be inhaled into the lungs.

The virus spreads easily

One of the things that has made COVID-19 the global pandemic it is – is the fact that the virus spreads relatively easily. It is very contagious and can also continue to spread “sustainably” to new people.

The virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading more very easily between people than influenza for example but less so than measles.

The probability of spread increases with the more closely and the longer a person interacts with others.

Can you get the virus from a surface.

While not by any means the main way the virus spreads it may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 through touching a surface that has the virus on it and then transmitting that to their mouth, nose and rarely it is believed, the eyes.

 

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