Transmission unlikely by secondhand smoke
However, infected smokers can spread virus when they cough
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to shut down daily life across the globe, thousands of our readers across the nation have asked us questions about COVID-19.
And we’re answering them.
Can coronavirus be transmitted through secondhand smoke?
– David from Columbus, Georgia
“It’s not the main mode of transmission. There’s probably some component of airborne, but I don’t think secondhand smoke would be a compounding factor,” said Tania Elliott, clinical instructor of infectious diseases at NYU Langone.
If the smoke irritates your lungs and causes you to cough, that poses a greater risk of transmission since the virus is thought to mainly spread through respiratory droplets when someone coughs or sneezes, Elliot said.
Smokers are likely to be more vulnerable to COVID-19 because fingers and possibly dirty cigarettes are in contact with lips, according to the World Health Organization.
While data is still evolving about how long the virus may remain alive, a recent study found that viable virus could be detected up to three hours later in the air.
Is cross-country road travel advisable to destinations outside of COVID-19 ‘hot spots’?
– Roland from Albuquerque, New Mexico
The White House is asking Americans to stay home as much as possible to slow the spread of the virus, and some states and local governments have issued “stay home” and “shelter in place” orders.
“I don’t think now’s the time to do it,” Elliott said. “... I wouldn’t recommend being in hotels or crowded public settings. If you want take a road trip and go camping, there’s risk associated with that.”
Has anyone with preexisting conditions gotten coronavirus and survived?
– Dee from Arlington, Texas
Yes, many people have. While the risk for serious disease and death from COVID-19 is higher in people who are older or who have certain preexisting conditions, thousands have survived.
For example, a February WHO study of more than 70,000 coronavirus patients in China found that people with preexisting conditions had higher fatality rates than those without: 13.2% for those with cardiovascular disease, 9.2% for diabetes, 8.4% for hypertension, 8% for chronic respiratory disease and 7.6% for cancer. However, those figures suggest that large percentages of people with preexisting conditions survived.
Can you catch the virus from people who’ve died?
– Nikki from Albany, Georgia
The main way the virus is thought to spread is through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and this is not a concern after death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But people should consider not touching the body of someone who has died of COVID-19, the CDC says.
There is no known risk tied to being in the same room at a funeral or visitation service with the body of someone who died of COVID-19, the CDC says.