With the coronavirus outbreak still raging worldwide, one thing doctors like me know for sure is that COVID-19 is very good at infecting people—even those who show no symptoms, but could spread it to you. Here are ways you are catching the virus without realizing it. Read on, and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had Coronavirus.

1

You've Gone Shopping and Mixed with Other People

COVID-19 spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes small droplets with the virus into the air. If you breathe them in or you touch the surface they have landed on, you may develop infection. That is why social distancing is very important and many shops are enforcing it. Please do everything you can to have your food delivered—and if you do go shopping, keep at least six feet from others, including when waiting in line, and follow my advice in the next slide.

2

You're Touching High-Touch Objects

Supermarkets and gas stations provide an ideal setting for virus spread as many people touch and replace items, swipe credit cards, press parking lot ticket machine buttons, ATM machines and paper receipts. Despite recent headlines saying the CDC changed its stance about the transmission of viruses on surfaces, they later clarified: "Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to persons from surfaces contaminated with the virus has not been documented," but "current evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 may remain viable for hours to days on surfaces made from a variety of materials."

3

You're Getting Home Deliveries and Forgetting One Important Thing

Home deliveries are less risky than a supermarket shopping however there is still a risk of possible contamination of the surface of any food or package or from the delivery driver. The best practice is to disposes of the boxes and then to wash your hands after handling packages, says Dr. Fauci.

4

You’re Back in the “Real World”

Now that cities are opening up, you may be going back to work, or into a mall, or to the movies. In order to reduce a spike of new cases, you must be hyper-vigilant about your hygiene (wash your hands for 20 seconds, wear a mask, etc), and one infectious disease doctor from Yale adds one other important element to consider: Ask yourself if your errand is essential. If it isn’t, skip it.

5

You're Taking Public Transport

Using public transport provides one of the biggest risks of getting COVID-19. Apart from the possibility of breathing in the droplets of the virus from the air, there is a risk of getting infected by touching surfaces. COVID-19 can survive on the surfaces for up to 5 days. Handles, seats, ticket machines are touched by thousands of people every day and they can contribute to virus spread. In fact, the CDC just mandated masks be worn while traveling.

6

You're Selling and Buying Used Things Online

There are still some sites open where people can trade used, new or unwanted items. The buyer or seller can be infected and spread this infection during item collection or drop off. The virus can stay on the surface of the item and when you touch it you can get infected.

7

You're Sharing Your Computer at Work

If you can not work from home or you are an "essential" worker using a shared computer or equipment, make sure you wipe it down with a disinfectant wipe before using it. Wipe it down before and after use to prepare it for the next person.

8

Your Cell Phone Can Be a Good Source of Infection

Even if you wear gloves while shopping or in public transport or at work, when you touch your phone you can transfer viruses from gloves to the surface of your phone. It is a good practice to not use your phone as much—but if you need to, make sure you wipe it with a disinfectant wipe as often as possible. The virus can stay on your phone and then it can be transferred to your hands. You can catch infection without realizing it as soon as you touch your face or mouth with infected hands.

9

You’re Wearing Your Mask Wrong

The CDC recommends wearing face masks not just to protect you from getting infected by droplets, but to stop you from spreading droplets. Here’s how they say you should wear one:

• “Wash your hands before putting on your face covering

• Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin

• Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face

• Make sure you can breathe easily

• Don’t put the covering around your neck or up on your forehead

• Don’t touch the face covering, and, if you do, wash your hands”

10

You Think Six Feet is Actually Three Feet

Remember the close talker episode of Seinfeld? Make sure you’re not one. To prevent spread of the virus, stand a true six feet away from someone when talking to them, or when packed into a grocery store. Think of the length of a twin size bed, if that helps.

11

You've Found Yourself in a Crowd

It can happen: You're avoiding crowds, just like Dr. Fauci advised, but a musician is playing live music outside your local bar, so you stop to listen, and suddenly you're surrounded by 30 other people, half of whom are wearing masks, many of whom are standing elbow to elbow. Excuse yourself as quickly as you can—and don't be shy about asking others—in the supermarket, the park or the DMV—to stand six feet away. And to get through this pandemic without catching coronavirus, don’t miss this essential list: Most COVID Patients Did This Before Getting Sick.