COVID19 Update: How Coronavirus Spreads

May 30, 2020

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Coronavirus has taken over the world. Lockdowns are in place in nearly every part of the globe, but the relentless march of the virus continues unchecked. If we have to know how to stop it, we should first know how it spreads.

Table of Contents

COVID-19 Infection

COVID-19 is caused by a new virus, SARS-CoV-2. It causes respiratory tract infection, an infection of the upper respiratory tract (sinuses, nose, and throat) or lower respiratory tract windpipe and lungs.

Most common symptoms of COVID-19 include:

Fever
Dry Cough
Fatigue
Sore throat
Difficulty in breathing
Loss of appetite

COVID-19 Spreads in Many Ways

COVID-19 is one of the fastest spreading infections. It spreads from person to person easily in the following ways.

Through Respiratory Droplets

When an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, droplets carrying the virus are sprayed into the air from their nose or mouth. If you are within 6 feet of that person, you will inhale these and get infected.

Aerosolised Transmission

Latest research shows that the virus can linger in the air in an aerosolized form for nearly three hours. When you breathe this air, you will be infected.

Surface Transmission

When a person with the virus coughs or sneezes on a surface, and you touch the surface and touch your face, nose, or mouth, you will be infected.

Fecal Spread

The virus is present in the stool of infected persons. When they use the bathroom and do not wash their hands properly, they can transmit the infection to people they touch.

Asymptomatic and Presymptomatic Spread

Many people who are infected with the virus do not show any signs or symptoms of the disease. They are said to be asymptomatic. In other infected people, the symptoms may take a while to develop, but will develop into a disease. They are said to be in the presymptomatic stage.

Both Asymptomatic and Presymptomatic people can spread the infection.