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Coronavirus 'does not spread easily' by touching surfaces or objects, CDC says. But it still 'may be
Source: USA Today
Coronavirus 'does not spread easily' by touching surfaces or objects, CDC says. But it still 'may be possible.'
Jessica Flores
USA TODAY
Published 9:06 p.m. ET May 20, 2020 | Updated 11:57 a.m. ET May 21, 2020
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has always warned that "it may be possible" to become infected with coronavirus by touching contaminated surfaces or objects.
It just "does not spread easily" in that manner, the agency says, nor by animal-to-human contact or vice versa.
"COVID-19 is a new disease and we are still learning about how it spreads," the CDC's recently updated guidelines say. "It may be possible for COVID-19 to spread in other ways, but these are not thought to be the main ways the virus spreads."
Dr. John Whyte, chief medical officer for the health care website WebMD, told Fox News that the CDC's slight update brings clarity and helps to reduce fears.
“Many people were concerned that by simply touching an object they may get coronavirus, and that’s simply not the case. Even when a virus may stay on a surface, it doesn’t mean that it’s actually infectious,” Whyte said. “I think this new guideline helps people understand more about what does and doesn’t increase risk. It doesn’t mean we stop washing hands and disinfecting surfaces. But it does allow us to be practical and realistic as we try to return to a sense of normalcy."
-snip-
Jessica Flores
USA TODAY
Published 9:06 p.m. ET May 20, 2020 | Updated 11:57 a.m. ET May 21, 2020
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has always warned that "it may be possible" to become infected with coronavirus by touching contaminated surfaces or objects.
It just "does not spread easily" in that manner, the agency says, nor by animal-to-human contact or vice versa.
"COVID-19 is a new disease and we are still learning about how it spreads," the CDC's recently updated guidelines say. "It may be possible for COVID-19 to spread in other ways, but these are not thought to be the main ways the virus spreads."
Dr. John Whyte, chief medical officer for the health care website WebMD, told Fox News that the CDC's slight update brings clarity and helps to reduce fears.
“Many people were concerned that by simply touching an object they may get coronavirus, and that’s simply not the case. Even when a virus may stay on a surface, it doesn’t mean that it’s actually infectious,” Whyte said. “I think this new guideline helps people understand more about what does and doesn’t increase risk. It doesn’t mean we stop washing hands and disinfecting surfaces. But it does allow us to be practical and realistic as we try to return to a sense of normalcy."
-snip-
Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/05/20/coronavirus-does-not-spread-easily-surfaces-objects-cdc/5232748002/
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Related: How COVID-19 Spreads (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
11 replies
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= new reply since forum marked as read
Is this news coming from CDC scientists who have conducted extensive lab experiments on which to base this information, or is it from the Redfield wing of the CDC who are tasked with doing whatever it takes to make trump's "open 'er up!" plans seem reasonable?
At the very same time we are being told that the virus doesn't survive on surfaces very well, the article points out that it does survive on various surfaces for hours or even days. At the same time the article touts that just because it's on that surface doesn't mean you can be infected by touching things, it also hedges by saying that you might.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has always warned that "it may be possible" to become infected with coronavirus by touching contaminated surfaces or objects.
It just "does not spread easily" in that manner...
It just "does not spread easily" in that manner...
Given the stakes, I'll keep spraying my packages and wiping down my groceries, all the doorknobs, my car on my few infrequent trips anywhere, my debit card, and myself just as I have been, tyvm.
eta: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/charlotte-woman-hasnt-left-her-house-in-three-weeks-but-tested-positive-for-covid-19/275-77707b1d-fd2f-4a36-bf3e-16beca4104c4
An epidemiologist called Brummert Tuesday, April 21 with the news: They had traced her exposure back to the keypad at the pharmacy.
Seems you can get infected from touching contaminated surfaces after all.
