How coronavirus infection spreads

Human coronaviruses cause infections of the nose, throat and lungs. They are most commonly spread from an infected person through:

the air by coughing and sneezing
close personal contact such as touching or shaking hands
touching something with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands

Preventing coronavirus infection

There are currently no vaccines available to protect you against human coronavirus infection. You may be able to reduce your risk of infection by doing the following:

wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
avoid close contact with people who are sick