Writing Diagnostic

The following essay, found on health.com, was last updated on 24 March, 2020. It includes the following

note: The information in this story is accurate as of press time. However, as the situation surrounding

COVID-19 continues to evolve, it's possible that some data have changed since publication. While Health

is trying to keep our stories as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on

news and recommendations for their own communities by using the CDC, WHO, and their local public

health department as resources.

How Is Coronavirus Spread? Here's What You Should (and Shouldn't)

Worry About by Jessica Migala

With more than 46,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United States (and more

than 392,000 cases worldwide), it's clear that the novel coronavirus (aka COVID-19), along with

the anxiety surrounding it, isn't going anywhere soon.

Because the virus is so new (it's technically called SARS-CoV-2, FYI), lots of the fear

surrounding COVID-19 stems from how little we know about it. Luckily, experts do know some

pretty important things about the virus' transmission, or how the coronavirus does—and

doesn't—spread.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 is mainly

spread from person-to-person, usually via close contact (within six feet). It can spread through

physical contact like handshaking if someone's hands are contaminated with the virus. And it can

also spread through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes

(again, that's why the six-feet rule is handy: those droplets can travel that far, and land on another

person's mouth or nose, and can even be inhaled).

The virus may also spread from person-to-person through surfaces that have been

touched by those infected. "A sneezing or coughing person will cover their mouth, get it all over

their hand, and then touch something that you then touch," Robert Murphy, MD, an infectious

disease expert at Northwestern University, tells health.com. “The virus can then gain entry into

your body when you touch your own face,” he adds. That’s precisely why experts can only

preach basic disease-prevention measures, like washing hands correctly (20 seconds with soap

and water) and regularly, wiping down common surfaces, and staying away from sick people.

Lastly, another possible way coronavirus can spread between people is via fecal

transmission. According to recent research from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and

Prevention (CCDC), those with confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (aka, COVID-19) have

live virus in stool specimens, meaning there's a possible fecal-oral route for the virus, as well.

Unfortunately, the only way to truly know if someone has COVID-19 is to test them;

that's because the symptoms of the illness look extremely similar to that of the common cold or

flu: cough, fever, and body aches. It's also important to know that not everyone who is infected

with coronavirus shows symptoms—as is the case with asymptomatic carriers, according to The

New York Times, or those who carry the virus around, spreading to other people, but never

falling ill themselves.

According to the CDC, it's possible that some spread may occur before people infected

with COVID-19 show symptoms, but it's probably not the main mode of transmission. It's

currently believed that people are most contagious when they are most symptomatic.

The recent coronavirus outbreak sparked a 2020 review published in the Journal of

Hospital Infection, which looked at other coronaviruses (including SARS, MERS, and other

endemic human coronaviruses), and determined that they can live on surfaces like metal, glass,

or plastic for anywhere from two hours to nine days. Subsequent research in the New England

Journal of Medicine found that the virus can live on copper for up to four hours, on cardboard

for up to 24 hours, and on plastic and stainless steel for two to three days.

However, investigators examining outbreaks of COVID-19 on three cruise ship voyages

in February and March reported the first evidence that the virus may hang around much longer

than initially thought. Traces of the virus were found in the cabins of infected Diamond Princess

passengers (including symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals) 17 days after their cabins

were vacated, according to the CDC.

Even if we don't know exactly how long the virus lingers on surfaces, we do know that

disinfecting surfaces is considered "best practice" for helping to prevent transmission of the

virus. So again, wiping down common surfaces (and avoiding touching common surfaces if

possible) will help decrease the spread. The CDC recommends cleaning tables, countertops, light

switches, doorknobs, and cabinet handles regularly. However, it’s unlikely that COVID-19 is

spread by mail or packages; if it were, there’d be even more cases, says Dr. Murphy.

It's a fair question—especially since lots of other viruses, like norovirus or other

gastrointestinal viruses can spread via contaminated food. But, while a risk can't be ruled out if

an infected person prepares the food or you buy it from a highly trafficked buffet, the

coronavirus doesn't appear to be spread by food, according to The New York Times.

The main way respiratory illnesses are spread is by touching a common surface a sick

person touched and then putting your hand up to your eyes, nose, or mouth, says Dr. Murphy.

Community spread is now being detected in a growing number of countries and in some

areas of the US, says the CDC, which only solidifies the need for people to follow the CDC's

preventive measures: avoiding close contact with people who are sick; avoiding touching your

eyes, nose, and mouth; staying home when you're sick; frequently disinfecting objects that are

touched regularly; and washing your hands often with soap and water, especially before eating

and after going to the bathroom.

ESSAY TOPIC

According to Migala, how is COVID-19 spread, and how can people best protect themselves

from getting it? Do you think that there are things that you can do to prevent getting or

spreading the virus that are not discussed in the article? Explain the steps you plan to take to try

to keep yourself and others healthy.