Modes of transmission causing COVID-19

You’re aware of simple measures you can take to defend yourself against COVID-19. But are you aware of the modes through which this virus can be transmitted? Let’s review the sources through which it travels.

Modes of transmission

• Droplets:

  We come in contact with the infected people either directly or indirectly. If the distance is less than 1 metre, the virus is likely to be transmitted. When the droplets are expelled from the infected people via sneezing, coughing or talking, they can enter your body through eyes or nose and end up infecting you. (Source: WHO)

   

• Contaminated surfaces:

  When the droplets are expelled from the infected people on an object, they can contaminate it. When you touch these surfaces or objects and touch your eyes, nose or mouth, the virus can be transmitted indirectly. These contaminated objects are also known as fomites. The infected droplets tend to stay on these objects for hours to days, depending on the external environmental factors such as temperature or humidity. Often, when you come in contact with the contaminated object, chances are that you’ve come in contact with the infected person too. In this case, it’s challenging to differentiate between the droplet transmission and fomite transmission. (Source: WHO). This is what we call an indirect contact with infected people, i.e. via objects.

   

• Airborne:

  Air transmission is the spread of an infectious agent due to the scattering of the infected droplets (aerosols) in the air. Airborne transmission was reportedly prevented in the hospitals when the health personnel took proper prevention and wore masks. However, people in enclosed spaces such as restaurants or fitness classes, reported the outbreak of coronavirus disease signalling the possibility of airborne transmission. If these crowded places don’t have proper ventilation and an infected person is present for a long time, airborne transmission is most likely to happen.There is an air of ambiguity around the possibility of airborne transmission. More research is required to verify this. (Source: WHO)

   

• Faecal transmission:

  In China, 1070 specimen of 207 people were collected from hospitals in Hubei. Out of these, 29% of positive cases of COVID-19 were observed with faecal transmission. (Source: NCBI). There may be a possibility of the transmission of the virus travelling in the intestine of an infected person and finding its presence in the faeces. So far, there are fewer studies indicating faecal transmission.

Knowing the external modes of transmission isn’t enough. You should focus on how you can defend yourself internally as well.

Read more at: https://www.drbatras.com/nutrition-and-covid-19-whats-connection