How does the Coronavirus Spread?

There are many ways for the pandemic to spread. The first way is the exchange of liquid particles from one person to another while speaking. In fact, this method of transmission is why it is so important to wear a mask when outside of your bubble! When you talk to someone, liquid particles from your mouth (such as spit) go into the air. If you were talking to someone who has COVID-19 without a mask, you would end up breathing in their infected mout water droplets, catching the virus. The next method is breathing in infected respiratory droplets. Again, it is so crucial to wear a mask. If you were within six feet of an infected person and they aren't wearing a mask, their breath will be in your shared air. And in their breathe, they are releasing particles from their lungs - where virus particles are - and are blowing it out into the air for you to breathe as well. Third, shared air works in a similar fashion. COVID-19 is an airborne virus, meaning it can linger in the air for extended periods of time without a host. This means that even if someone is not directly near you, air particles with the virus can linger for a period of time and you can catch the virus. A greater example of this would be public transportation, where influxes of people are going in and out of a shared space. The final mode of transmission is the infected surfaces. Coronaviruses can live on various surfaces for periods of time (for specifics, check out the CDC's information on this). If someone touched a doorknob and had the coronavirus, their germs are still on that doorknob when you go to open the door. That is why washing your hands properly is a great tool to keep you safe.