UNDATED – The spread of COVID-19 in the United States is a rapidly evolving situation. The disease that causes respiratory illness and fatalities in the state has made its way to Illinois quickly in the past weeks. State officials across the U.S have taken action they and health officials feel necessary, such as the stay-at-home order mandated by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and others. The new virus has takes the country by storm, unexpectedly. Since it’s inception, there have been fallacies spread of all kinds leaving the public sceptic and with unanswered questions. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention is still learning how it spreads, its severity, and to what extend it may spread. It’s come down to each individual taking their own precautionary measures including the ones already laid out. As we take our measures to mitigate the advancements, it’s important to know the current facts on how it spreads.
Person to person: This pathway is the most common. Its why social distancing at least 6ft apart is necessary. According to the CDC, when an infected person coughs or sneezes, respiratory droplets that go into the air can be inhaled or come in other contact with another person.
Surfaces: Not noted to be the main way the virus spreads. However, the CDC does say it’s possible that a person can get the virus by touching a surface or object that’s contaminated and then touching your mouth nose or eyes. Secondly, a notion has circulated that the virus can last on plastic up to 72 hours. According to a publication by John Hopkins Medical Center, Professor Dr. Carolyn Machamer, who’s lab has studied coronavirus, says the the amount is less than .1% of the starting virus material. Though it still doesn’t mean don’t disinfect your surfaces frequently. Machamer says there cannot be an over abundance of caution as this is a new disease.
For key COVID-19 facts visit:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/share-facts.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fabout%2Fshare-facts.html
