COVID-19 transmission: how you catch the coronavirus

The transmission of SARS-CoV-2, responsible for COVID-19, occurs mainly through the inhalation of droplets of saliva and respiratory secretions that can become suspended in the air when a person with COVID-19 coughs or sneezes.

Therefore, it is important that preventive measures are adopted, such as washing your hands with soap and water, avoiding staying in closed environments with many people and covering your mouth and nose whenever you need to sneeze or cough.

Coronavirus is a family of viruses responsible for respiratory changes, which generally cause fever, intense cough and difficulty breathing. Learn more about coronaviruses and the symptoms of COVID-19 infection.

How transmission happens

The main forms of transmission of the new coronavirus appear to be through:

1. Coughing and sneezing

The most common form of transmission of COVID-19 is through inhalation of droplets of saliva or respiratory secretions, which can remain present in the air for a few seconds or minutes after a symptomatic or asymptomatic infected person coughs or sneezes.

This is the main form of transmission of COVID-19, and measures should be taken such as wearing a personal protective mask in public places, avoiding being in closed environments with many people and always covering your mouth and nose when you need to cough or sneeze at home. .

2. Contact with contaminated surfaces

Contact with contaminated surfaces is another important way of transmitting COVID-19, since, according to research carried out in the United States, the new coronavirus can remain infectious for up to three days on some surfaces:

• Plastic and stainless steel: up to 3 days;
• Copper: 4 hours;
• Cardboard: 24 hours.

When you place your hands on these surfaces and then pass your hand over your face, to scratch your eyes or clean your mouth, for example, it is possible that you may become infected with the virus, which can enter the body through the mucous membranes of the mouth, eyes and nose.

For this reason, it is recommended to wash your hands frequently, especially after being in public places or places that are at greater risk of being contaminated with droplets from other people’s coughs or sneezes. Furthermore, it is also important to disinfect surfaces regularly. See more about how to clean surfaces at home and work to protect yourself from COVID-19.

Variants of COVID-19

COVID-19 variants arise due to changes in the virus replication process, leading to the appearance of mutations in its genetic material. Depending on the mutation suffered, the behavior of the virus can be altered, such as transmission capacity, severity of the disease and resistance to treatments.

The World Health Organization classifies variants as variants of concern, interest and monitoring according to the characteristics of the virus after mutations. The variants of concern are those that, due to mutations in the surface protein of SARS-CoV-2, have a greater capacity for transmission, a greater capacity to cause disease and/or a greater capacity to circumvent adopted prevention and control measures. A variant of concern is currently described, the omicron and its sub-variants. Learn more about COVID-19 variants.

How not to catch coronavirus

To avoid COVID-19 infection, it is recommended to adopt a set of protective measures that include:

• Wash your hands well with soap and waterespecially after coming into contact with someone who has the virus or is suspected of having it;
• Avoid closed environments with lots of peopleas in these environments the virus can spread more easily and reach a greater number of people;
• Use personal protective masks to cover your nose and mouth and especially avoid transmission to other people. In regions at higher risk of infection and for healthcare professionals who are caring for people suspected of having coronavirus, it is recommended to use N95, N100, FFP2 or FFP3 masks.
• Avoid contact with wild animals or who appear to be sick, as transmission can happen between animals and people.

It is also recommended to avoid sharing personal objects that may contain droplets of saliva, for example, such as cutlery and glasses. Check out other ways to avoid catching coronavirus.

Is it possible to catch the virus more than once?

There are, in fact, reported cases of people catching the virus a second time after a first infection. However, according to the CDC, the risk of catching COVID-19 again is very low, especially in the first 90 days after the initial infection. This happens because the body produces antibodies that guarantee natural protection against the virus, at least during the first 90 days.

What to do in case of COVID-19

If you have symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, have a positive test or have been in contact with someone infected, please enter your details to find out what to do: