11,302 reported coronavirus infections in Germany worry people. Can you really get infected with objects? This is how you minimize the risk.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Covid-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020.
- 207,518 coronavirus infections have been reported worldwide since early 2020. (As of March 18, 2020)
- To reduce your own risk of infection, you should take precautions.
The coronavirus epidemic never ends. The authorities are alarmed by new cases worldwide. Not only governments are setting up crisis teams, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the coronavirus epidemic an international health emergency. Citizens' concerns lead to hamster purchases, disinfection products sold out, and the use of face masks * in some regions .
But how do you get infected with the new lung disease COVID-19? And how exactly do the pathogens (also called SARS-CoV-2) spread? The following rules of conduct should be observed in order to minimize the risk of infection .
Droplet infection as the main transmission route: This is how Sars-CoV-2 spreads
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI), as the federal authority for infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases, reports that the main transmission route of coronaviruses * is primarily droplet infection , i.e. if the virus gets into the air, for example due to the cough of an infected person, from there to the mucous membranes of the eyes , Hit the mouth and nose of other people and penetrate the body. In this way, the coronavirus can also spread through kissing. A smear infection over contaminated surfaces is also considered possible - for example, if a patient infected with coronavirus coughs in the hands, opens the door in the subway and another then touches the door handle. Whether coronaviruses are also transmitted through sexual intercourse is unlikely, but the WHO does not categorically rule this out.
" On the other hand, transmission via inanimate surfaces has not yet been documented . Infection with SARS-CoV-2 via surfaces that do not belong to the immediate surroundings of a symptomatic patient, such as imported goods, mail items or luggage, therefore seems unlikely," says the Sides of the RKI.
Also read : Coronavirus in Germany: What everyone can do to avoid becoming infected .
Can you get infected with the corona virus through money?
What about banknotes and coins? The European Central Bank does not assume that the risk of infection from contact with cash is particularly high. " So far, there is no evidence that the corona virus was transmitted via banknotes, " said a spokeswoman for the ECB when asked by Tagesspiegel. This is confirmed by the Bundesbank, which points out that the Eurosystem regularly carries out studies on whether the production or circulation of euro banknotes can have an impact on public health. "For citizens, the same hand hygiene measures are recommended for handling banknotes and coins as for all other everyday items, such as doorknobs, shopping carts or payment terminals," the Bundesbank continues.
The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) also gives the all-clear: " There are currently no cases in which it has been proven that people get involved in other ways ( editor's note: than about droplet and smear infection ), for example through the consumption of contaminated food or through imported toys infected with the novel coronavirus . There are no reports of food infections or contact with dry surfaces for other coronaviruses either. However, transmissions over surfaces that have recently been contaminated with viruses are conceivable due to smear infections low stability of coronaviruses in the environment, this is only likely in the short period after contamination. "
More on the topic : Vaccination against the corona virus: epidemic expert with a grim prognosis .
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How long do corona viruses adhere to surfaces? Should I stop using public transport?
"You can still use the bus and train. However, the following measures should be taken: Regular hand washing *, try to keep your distance from people who have obviously caught a cold, " quotes the Südwestrundfunk, the virologist and laboratory manager Martin Stürmer. Given that surfaces are only infectious if infected people have contaminated them with viruses, the risk of infection is not great in non-risk areas.
However, Striker contests: " We have data that the virus can persist on surfaces for up to nine days . But whether it is still highly infectious must be confirmed again. Potentially, it is also infectious for several hours and days."
Various experiments are ongoing. Tests conducted by US virologists have shown that the novel pathogen Sars-CoV-2 can last up to three days on plastic and stainless steel . In contrast, the pathogen is usually no longer detectable in aerosols in the air after about three hours, reports the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
You might also be interested in this: The average age of COVID-19 patients .
Should you avoid major events related to the coronavirus epidemic?
Festivals, football games or other major events should be avoided in high-risk areas * such as Italy or Iran . In many countries, including Germany, events with over 1,000 participants were canceled. In the Tagesschau on March 12, 2020, Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel also called for all the necessary events with fewer than 1,000 visitors to be avoided. The primary goal is to slow the spread of the virus, said Merkel. Social contacts should therefore be largely stopped as far as possible - if necessary even into the family environment, said Merkel in her weekly video message.
How to protect yourself against infection with corona viruses
To protect yourself against coronavirus and other infectious diseases such as influenza *, you should take general precautions , including:
- Wash your hands regularly, especially after using public transport.
- Do not touch your face with unwashed hands.
- It is best not to open doors in public spaces with your fingers, but with gloves, ankles or elbows.
Sources : www.tagesspiegel.de ; www.bfr.bund.de ; www.rki.de ; www.swr.de; www.experience.arcgis.com; www.tagesschau.de; www.sueddeutsche.de; https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html
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* merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network .