The SARS-C0V-2 virus spreads from infected people through contaminated saliva, respiratory secretions, and respiratory droplets. These expel into the atmosphere when they cough, sneeze, talk, or sing according to World Health Organization. However, COVID-19 spread via contacts and droplets requires the presence of another, exposed person or persons nearby to complete the process.
Therefore People Are Intermediaries in the Infection Cycle
The virus could be dead, buried and forgotten if people cooperated by blocking this transmission. COVID-19 is a respiratory disease affecting our breathing systems. Therefore, it logically spreads between the mouths and noses of people.
The commonest channel for this is airborne transmission. An infected person breathes out tiny droplets of moisture. They float in the air like cigarette smoke for long enough for another person to breathe them in. That’s how we catch colds and influenza. It works the same way with the coronavirus.
Our scientists have not figured out how many droplets we need to generate a new infection. However, they do understand we need a sizeable amount to obtain traction. This translates to inhaling infected air for a sufficient period. And this in turn guides us on how to avoid falling ill.
Commonest Scenarios for COVID-19 Spread via Contacts and Droplets
Two factors come into play here. The first is the time we spend in infected air. While the second factor is the saturation of infected droplets in that air. The former is why healthcare workers and family members need extra protection in presence of infected people. However, the second explains the rationale behind crowd control.
It stands to reason, statistically speaking that COVID-19 spread via contacts and droplets is more likely in crowded places. This is the justification for visiting shopping malls in quiet times, and managing large groups of people at sports meetings, religious gatherings, political rallies, and mass transport settings.
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Preview Image: Condensing Water Vapor in Breath
