Presentation of floral bouquets to patients can transmit COVID-19

KARACHI: Microbiologist Dr Farhan Isa has warned that presentation of floral bouquets to the patients can transmit the Coronavirus, ARY News reported on Friday.

“Be careful while meeting patients at hospitals. Do not give them flower bouquets because they can spread disease,” he warned the masses in an statement issued, here today. The virus can remain active on the flower.

Dr Isa also advised masses to avoid shaking hands with patients and speak with them by keeping a distance.

He also suggested that children should not be taken to hospitals as they are vulnerable to infections.

Currently, the nationwide tally of COVID-19 patients stand at 1,235, with nine deaths.

There are several other ways through which the novel coronavirus can spread easily.

Person-to-person spread

The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.

• Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
• Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

Can someone spread the virus without being sick?

People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest).

Some spread might be possible before people show symptoms; there have been reports of this occurring with this new coronavirus, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

Spread from contact with contaminated surfaces or objects

It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

How easily the virus spreads

How easily a virus spreads from person-to-person can vary. Some viruses are highly contagious (spread easily), like measles, while other viruses do not spread as easily. Another factor is whether the spread is sustained, spreading continually without stopping.

The virus that causes COVID-19 seems to be spreading easily and sustainably in the community (“community spread”) in some affected geographic areas.

Courtesy: US CDC