How does COVID-19 spread?
According to the CDC, COVID-19 is spread mainly from person-to-person, usually via close contact (within six feet or 2 meters).
That could be via physical contact, like handshaking (if someone's hands are contaminated with the virus) or touching contaminated surfaces.
Simply being near an infected person who coughs, sneezes, or talks can expose you to their infected respiratory droplets, the CDC says. It those virus-containing particles land in your eyes, nose, or mouth, or if it they get on your hands and your rub any of those places on your face, you could possibly acquire the infection. And some people may be capable of spreading it to others even though they don't have any symptoms, the CDC points out.
How coronavirus spreads outdoors vs. indoors
If you want to stay totally safe from Covid-19, and eliminate the risk of either getting it or transmitting it, you have to stay home. But as the weather gets warmer, public places start to open up, and many places enter their fourth month of life under coronavirus, that’s becoming less and less realistic.
At the same time, we know that coronavirus can be transmitted through the air -- and that raises some pretty big questions. Is it safe to go the beach? What about a park? Is a heavy-breathing runner going to infect you as they pass you? In short: How do you go outside safely?