I've sent this question to my PCP, but I'd be interested in the thoughts of...

[LAS14]

... informed DUers.

What is the liklihood of catching COVID-19 from an infected person if you are near them, but don't touch them or anything they've touched and they don't cough or sneeze?

Haven't heard back from my PCP yet. The subject of my message was "A question while it's still not time critical" and it contained other questions such as "What should trigger a call to you or a trip to the ER?"

tia
las

[dalton99a]

1. I'd say low risk if at least 6 ft away

[abqtommy]

6. AND if you don't enter a bathroom stall that they've previously occupied OR sit down at an eatery

table or counter or bus/taxi seat they used.. I could go on but things aren't really looking so simple. I'd rather cut directly to the part where we focus on survivability...

[hlthe2b]

2. Not touching them or anything they've contaminated nor touching your eyes, nose, face

mouth (or food/drink) until after you have thoroughly washed hands and with no coughing or sneezing in your vicinity (six or more feet away from all), has all but eliminated routes of exposure. Risk should be low unless there is a error in the "equation." (ie, you did touch something recently contaminated and unknowingly touched face, eyes, hands, mouth and didn't realize it--or touched something else that you later use to engage a mucus membrane surface with e.g., door knobs).

Not zero because of human difficulty in always remembering their behaviors but exceedingly low.

[Hoyt]

3. Hope your PCP knows more than mine. Haven't been impressed by a doc since Marcus Welby.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

4. Here's the problem....

many statements we see in the press made by professionals are "educated guesses". Because this is a brand-new virus to the scientific community, complete analysis has not been done on many aspects of its spread and prevention.

Although many say stay away from an infected person "x" feet, I don't trust that until they prove by testing that this virus cannot be transmitted by aerosol (super-fine particles). I've not been able to find any studies done on the aerosol characteristics of coronavirus.

The "X" feet guess is for vapors (relatively large droplets) carrying the virus and droplets fall by gravity. However, aerosols - just like smoke - can linger and carry long distances.

Here's a good web page on "what to know and do" from the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html

and....

Prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you are sick at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/steps-when-sick.html

KY............

[LAS14]

7. Thanks. This is particularly helpful, if only to document why we really don't know. nt

[KY_EnviroGuy]

10. Most times, the professional will say "we believe" or "we think" or...

"we suspect", but then the statements get placed as fact on public and social media. However, those type items are not true facts until thorough studies have been completed - some of which may be years away (if funded).

Obviously we have to trust the pros to a degree until they gain more science-based knowledge.....

[defacto7]

5. There are guidelines on how far to stay away. I've heard 10'.

but nothing is certain. Farther is safer.

[LAS14]

8. I'm thinking particularly if my husband or I get sick and we try to keep the other one healthy.

[defacto7]

9. I've thought about that situation myself.

That's a hard one to answer.