The virus spreads mainly between people in close contact, such as within talking distance. It can be transmitted through short-range airborne transmission, when infectious particles are inhaled at close range. Additionally, droplet transmission occurs when infectious particles come into direct contact with the eyes, nose, or mouth. In poorly ventilated or crowded indoor settings, aerosols can remain airborne or travel farther than talking distance, known as long-distance airborne transmission.

While it is possible to get COVID-19 by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your face, the risk of infection this way is relatively low compared to inhaling respiratory droplets or aerosols. The virus is not spread through food, drinking water, or natural bodies of water.

The impact of COVID-19 on public health has been significant around the world. The high contagion capacity of the virus makes it difficult to control its spread, since even asymptomatic people can transmit the virus without knowing it. The global pandemic has resulted in millions of infections and hundreds of thousands of deaths. In addition to the immediate health consequences, measures taken to control the spread of the virus have led to decreased physical activity, increased isolation, and increased stress. These factors have had negative effects on mental health, with reports of increased anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems.