Greene County health experts discuss different ways the 2019 novel coronavirus is spreading across the globe.

Greene County Medical Center Infection Prevention Nurse Heather Kinsey says the virus is spreading through person-to-person contact, mostly within six feet of each other. 

“It’s through the respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Those droplets can land in the mouth, or noses of people who are within that six feet so then it can possibly then be inhaled into their lungs.”

Kinsey says another way the virus spreads is by touching possible contaminated areas. 

“It can be spread from contact with contaminated surfaces or objects. That could be possible when someone touches a surface or object that has the virus on it, and then they touch their own mouths, or possibly their nose or eyes.”

Kinsey reminds everyone to continue to keep at least six-feet apart from others, cover coughs and wipe or disinfect frequently touched surfaces. The common symptoms of COVID-19 include a fever, shortness of breath and a dry cough. If someone is experiencing these symptoms, they are to call 211 or contact their physician for further medical advice.