The main routes of transmission of COVID-19 are through respiratory droplets from people carrying the virus. This disease has a high capacity for spread, and it seems that we still do not know how it behaves.
The hygiene and social distancing habits we are acquiring to prevent the spread of the virus will enable us to deal with other infections under normal conditions. We would like to remind you that, in addition to the main measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, new measures are being introduced, such as a ban on smoking in public places and a limit on the number of people allowed to attend family gatherings.
These measures are not only intended to prevent infection, but also to ensure that we can "trace" the chain of infection and isolate those who have contracted the virus or may have done so.
The World Health Organization has confirmed that the coronavirus is transmitted through the air and not only through contact with respiratory droplets from people who are infected, whether they have symptoms or not.
This means that we are all potential carriers of the virus and we must all take preventive measures. The main one is to maintain a distance of one meter between people; if an infected person sneezes or coughs and those droplets reach another person, the probability of transmission is very high.
Do masks protect us when we are out on the street? Although wearing a mask was not mandatory during the first few months when the disease first emerged, it is now mandatory whenever we are in public places, workplaces, and anywhere where there is personal contact. It is very important to always wear them, maintain social distancing, and continue to comply with these measures.
At this link, you will find the different types of masks and their characteristics.
Preventive measures against direct contact with respiratory droplets:
When can airborne transmission occur? Healthcare workers are particularly exposed to the risk of infection as they must perform procedures on patients infected with COVID-19. Airborne transmission can occur through the generation of aerosols during intubation, bronchoscopy, nebulized treatment, ventilation procedures, tracheotomies, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Constant contact with infected individuals and repeated application of treatments puts healthcare workers at greater risk than the rest of the population.
One of the recommendations that has been made since the beginning of the crisis is the need to wash our hands constantly and to clean and disinfect all surfaces. Why?
As potential carriers, we can transmit the virus to all surfaces through sneezing or coughing. If a person then touches that surface with their hands and then touches their face, they are at risk of contracting the virus.
Let us also remember that the virus remains on materials for hours. For example, on stainless steel and plastic, the virus is viable 72 hours after coming into contact with those surfaces. On cardboard, contamination can last up to 24 hours, and on copper, about 3 hours.
Preventive measures against direct contact with infected surfaces:
