Coronavirus transmission

What is corona infection?

Corona contagion is when the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is spread between people. Colloquially, the virus is simply referred to as coronavirus. The disease caused by the virus has been named Covid-19. Covid-19 leads to a respiratory infection that can cause mild, moderate or severe symptoms. For some, the disease can even be fatal. Fortunately, mild or no symptoms are more common than severe symptoms.

How is the coronavirus transmitted?

Droplet infection. The coronavirus is mainly transmitted via respiratory droplets. Aerosol infection can also occur, but is less common. When an infected person talks, sings, coughs or sneezes, droplets will go into the air. These droplets can be inhaled by others causing them to become infected.

Direct contact infection. In the case of direct contact infection, the coronavirus will spread via physical contact, or by touching your own face after getting droplets on your hands from another person.

Indirect contact infection. Indirect contact infection can occur when someone who has got the virus on their hands touches objects that are then touched by others who in turn get the virus on their hands.

It has not been seen that the coronavirus is transmitted through sexual contact. Transmission via blood and faeces has also not been shown. There is no documented infection between humans and pets. Transmission from mother to child during pregnancy has so far not been demonstrated, either via the placenta or during birth. Breastfeeding and mother's milk have also not been proven to be a route of infection for the coronavirus. Nor is it likely that the coronavirus is transmitted via food and water.

Is the corona virus spread equally by everyone?

Individual differences come into play when it comes to how much the infection is spread by the individual in the population. Some pretend to be so-called "super-spreaders" who infect many people. Fortunately, these are in the minority. It has been seen that between 10 and 20 per cent of those infected accounted for approximately 80 per cent of secondary infected cases.

In addition, it seems that infected people without symptoms are less contagious than those with symptoms. Note, however, that all infected people can infect others regardless of whether they have symptoms or not. The risk of infection also seems to be lower among children under 10 years of age. Within the same household, the degree of infection is relatively high.

How does corona infection develop during the course of the disease?

The degree of infection appears to be highest the day before symptoms of illness appear. The infection then gradually decreases over the next 7 days. In people with mild to moderate symptoms, it is rare that the virus is still excreted after 10 days. However, virus shedding seems to be higher in those with severe symptoms.

Self-test Covid-19

You can test yourself whether you are infected with covid-19 and the coronavirus at home, with our simple self-testers designed for home use. The tests are easy to use, and give you an answer as to whether or not you are infected within 15 minutes. The sample is taken in the nose with the supplied test stick. Read the package leaflet carefully, here it is well described how the test should be carried out.