False: You can only get COVID-19 if you sit next to an infected person.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, "particles from an infected person can move throughout an entire room or indoor space." In late 2019, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was discovered. Most people infected with the virus experience mild to moderate respiratory illness. Sometimes, however, it can cause severe disease and death. Millions of people have now died from COVID-19. Many medical organizations and governments have published extensive information about the virus and how it spreads. According to a Lancet article published in April 2021, COVID-19 is predominantly transmitted through the air. Six experts from the U.S., U.K., and Canada wrote the report and presented ten points to prove that COVID-19 is primarily transmitted through the airborne route. The Lancet article said, "viable SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in the air. In laboratory experiments, SARS-CoV-2 stayed infectious in the air for up to 3 h with a half-life of 1·1 h.12." According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the "transmission of COVID-19 from inhalation of virus in the air can occur at distances greater than six feet. Particles from an infected person can move throughout an entire room or indoor space. The particles can also linger in the air after a person has left the room – they can remain airborne for hours in some cases." The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that the virus can spread through aerosol particles or contact between an infected and non-infected person. The virus often spreads when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or speaks with others in close proximity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that people can also get infected by touching surfaces contaminated by the virus when they touch their eyes, nose, or mouth without first washing their hands. CORRECTION: We marked this claim as "misleading" when it is in fact "false." While it might be more likely that you become infected with COVID-19 from someone who is closer to you, it is by no means the "only" way that you can become infected. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19, including symptoms, prevention, and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organization or your national healthcare authority.