How far is the transmission of the novel coronavirus?

Plague novel coronavirus or 2019-nCoV originating from the city of Wuhan, China has now claimed more than 300 lives and has spread in several countries other than China. Until now, researchers don't know for sure how the coronavirus spreads to humans. However, they managed to identify the distance of transmission and timing of the coronavirus , that is, two meters.

Coronavirus transmission distance is two meters

Previously, researchers assumed that the coronavirus that broke out in the fish market in Wuhan, China, would not spread to other countries. In fact, this is not the case.

According to a WHO report as of February 2, 2020, there were 14,557 coronavirus cases globally. In fact, the virus allegedly originating from bats has first claimed lives outside China, namely in the Philippines.

The increasing number of cases and victims has made the whole world even more alert. Various efforts to prevent transmission were carried out, such as prohibiting Chinese citizens from transiting or coming to other countries, such as Indonesia.

Almost everyone wonders, how did the number of victims increase in such a short time? Actually, how far is the transmission of the coronavirus?

COVID-19 Outbreak updates Country: IndonesiaData

1,012,350

Confirmed

820,356

Recovered

28,468

DeathDistribution Map

According to the CDC, the distance from human to human transmission of the coronavirus occurs when near an infected person, which is about two meters or 6 feet.

The spread of coronavirus is thought to occur when droplets of saliva are produced by an infected person when coughing or sneezing. Then, the water droplets stick to the mouth or nose of people who are near the patient and are inhaled into the lungs.

However, it is still unclear if someone can get the coronavirus if they touch a surface or object that has the virus on it.

One other thing that is quite important is the duration of time. If you are close to someone who has been infected for more than 10 minutes, there is a greater chance of catching it.

"Time and distance matter a lot," said Emily Landon, Medical Director of Infection Control at the University of Chicago.

is novel coronavirus can it become an international disease outbreak?

The distance of transmission of the coronavirus is indeed quite close, which is about two meters and many of you might underestimate that the virus will not reach other countries.

In fact, no. This assumption is countered by the increasing number of coronavirus cases outside China.

Several countries, such as Indonesia, the United States and Australia have banned their citizens from visiting China. In addition, the government also prohibits tourists from China from entering their country by screening arrivals at airports.

The close distance of coronavirus transmission has made the government even more vigilant about screening arrivals at the airport considering the scope on the plane is quite small.

Those of you who have just returned from China may need to keep this in mind, namely that passengers sitting near windows have the lowest risk of contracting coronavirus. This is because people who sit near the windows move less frequently and do not come into contact with passers-by in the aircraft corridor.

On the other hand, passengers who sit in the same row as the infected person have the highest risk. This is because the transmission distance of the coronavirus is very close when sitting side by side.

Finally, the government has also increased security at national entrances, such as airports, ports and transportation terminals. Whether it's by installing thermal scanner or check passengers' temperature one by one to reduce the risk of coronavirus entering their country.

How to reduce the risk of transmission of the coronavirus?

After knowing that the transmission of the coronavirus can occur in a fairly close distance, of course it is time to recognize how to reduce the risk of this disease.

If you are boarding an airplane with a passenger who has recently visited from China, try the steps below.

1. Avoid physical contact

One way to reduce the risk of coronavirus when you are in close proximity is to avoid physical contact with people who are sick.

This aims to reduce exposure to respiratory water droplets that can come out when the person sneezes or coughs. When you are near them, try not to touch them and keep your distance.

2. Being at home when you are sick

In addition to keeping your distance from sick people, you also need to know yourself when your body is sick in order to reduce the risk of disease when the coronavirus transmission distance is close enough.

The condition of your body is not fit, aka your immune system is low, making it more susceptible to disease. In addition, by being at home, you also reduce the risk of transmitting your current illness to others.

3. Cover the nose and mouth

Covering the nose and mouth is an effort to reduce the risk of disease when the distance of transmission of the coronavirus is close enough, such as when on a plane.

One way is to cover the nose and mouth with a tissue when someone is coughing or sneezing. In fact, you can also use a mask as a way to prevent viruses from other people from entering your body.

4. Clean hands regularly

Another way to reduce the risk of spreading the disease when the coronavirus transmission distance is very close is to wash your hands regularly. Hand washing is considered to be very effective in cleaning germs and viruses that stick to the palms.

In addition, you are advised not to touch the eyes, nose and mouth frequently, both before and after engaging in this healthy habit.

In conclusion, anyone is at risk novel coronavirus originating from Wuhan, China. This is even more so when you are in a fairly close transmission distance with a person who is infected with the coronavirus.

Therefore, it is highly recommended to maintain cleanliness and protect yourself from this outbreak by using a mask or any protective equipment.