Introduction
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has had a devastating impact on the world, with millions of people infected and hundreds of thousands of deaths. As the virus continues to spread, it is important to understand how it is transmitted in order to take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and others. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are five primary ways you might have caught COVID-19. These include close contact with an infected person, contact with contaminated surfaces, airborne transmission, contact with respiratory droplets, and contact with fecal matter. In this article, we will discuss each of these five ways in detail and provide tips on how to protect yourself from infection.
5 Ways You Might Have Caught COVID, According to the CDC
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified five primary ways that people can become infected with the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. Knowing how the virus is spread is essential for preventing its spread and protecting yourself and others.
1. Close Contact with an Infected Person
The most common way to become infected with COVID-19 is through close contact with someone who is already infected. This includes being within 6 feet of an infected person for a prolonged period of time, or having direct contact with their saliva or respiratory secretions.
2. Touching Contaminated Objects or Surfaces
The virus can also be spread by touching contaminated objects or surfaces, such as doorknobs, tables, or countertops. If you touch a contaminated surface and then touch your face, you can become infected.
3. Breathing in Droplets from an Infected Person
When an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, they release droplets of saliva or mucus into the air. If you breathe in these droplets, you can become infected.
4. Eating or Drinking Contaminated Food or Beverages
The virus can also be spread through contaminated food or beverages. If an infected person prepares or serves food or drinks, they can spread the virus to anyone who consumes the food or drink.
5. Having Unprotected Sex
The virus can also be spread through unprotected sex. If one partner is infected, they can spread the virus to their partner through sexual contact.
By understanding how the virus is spread, you can take steps to protect yourself and others. Be sure to practice social distancing, wear a face covering, and wash your hands often.
With file coronavirus instances and deaths every day, it may well really feel like COVID-19 is round each nook, coming to get you. In case you’ve left your self uncovered, it would. “Individuals who have been in shut contact with somebody who has COVID-19—excluding individuals who have had COVID-19 inside the previous 3 months”—ought to quarantine, says the CDC. However how are you aware for those who might need been uncovered? A technique is to assume for those who’ve had any shut contact with somebody who has COVID. Learn on to see what the CDC says—and to make sure your well being and the well being of others, do not miss these Positive Indicators You have Already Had Coronavirus.
In case you and people you shelter with have agreed to take measures to cut back threat, there may be nonetheless threat. Some consultants even suggest you put on a face masks indoors in your personal residence. Nonetheless, the CDC solely recommends quarantining—”keep residence, separate themselves from others, monitor their well being, and comply with instructions from their state or native well being division”— if the next has occurred.
It sounds self-explanatory. Nonetheless, this “somebody” might not exhibit any signs: “Roughly 20% of asymptomatic individuals who take a look at optimistic for COVID-19 will stay symptom-free over time, in response to two research revealed September 22 in numerous journals,” in response to Medscape. Higher, then, to imagine anybody you are speaking to might have COVID, and keep at a distance.
You have heard the horror tales: Mother has coronavirus and is locked within the bed room, whereas her daughters marvel why she will be able to’t come out. The explanation why is, if Dad is uncovered, the entire household might catch COVID. “Use a separate room and loo for sick family members (if potential),” advises the CDC. “Present your sick family member with clear disposable facemasks to put on at residence, if obtainable, to assist stop spreading COVID-19 to others.”
Once more, distance is essential to stopping the unfold. “Clear the sick room and loo, as wanted, to keep away from pointless contact with the sick particular person,” says the CDC.
“COVID-19 is primarily transmitted from person-to-person by way of respiratory droplets,” says the CDC. “These droplets are launched when somebody with COVID-19 sneezes, coughs, or talks. Infectious droplets can land within the mouths or noses of people who find themselves close by or presumably be inhaled into the lungs.” Share silverware and you’re doubtlessly spoon-feeding somebody COVID—do not do it.
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“A bodily distance of at the least 1 meter (3 ft) between individuals is recommended by the World Well being Group (WHO) to keep away from an infection, though some WHO member states have beneficial sustaining larger distances at any time when potential,” says the CDC. “Respiratory droplets can land on palms, objects or surfaces across the particular person once they cough or speak, and folks can then grow to be contaminated with COVID-19 from touching palms, objects or surfaces with droplets after which touching their eyes, nostril, or mouth.”
Says the CDC: “Keep residence and monitor your well being
- Keep residence for 14 days after your final contact with an individual who has COVID-19.
- Look ahead to fever (100.4◦F), cough, shortness of breath, or different signs of COVID-19
- If potential, keep away from others, particularly people who find themselves at greater threat for getting very sick from COVID-19.”
And it doesn’t matter what, comply with Fauci’s fundamentals and assist finish this surge, irrespective of the place you reside—put on a face masks, social distance, keep away from massive crowds, do not go indoors with individuals you are not sheltering with (particularly in bars), follow good hand hygiene, get vaccinated when it turns into obtainable to you, and to guard your life and the lives of others, do not go to any of those 35 Locations You are Most Prone to Catch COVID.