How far away do I need to be from people to not catch a virus?

Slowing the pace of infection is the single most important thing that we all can do to preserve the capacities of our health care systems.

QUESTION: How far away do I need to stay from people without a mask so that I don’t breath in what they exhale?

ANSWER: This video shows the movement of breath from person to person during a conversation between two people. There is a very low chance of infection since unlike with a cough or a sneeze, cells, water droplets and other particles like bacteria and viruses are not normally present in a person’s breath.


QUESTION: How far does a cough or sneeze travel and how easily can in infect me?

ANSWER: These videos show the expulsion of particulates in a person’s cough and sneeze. Each sneeze or cough launches cells, water droplets, and other particles like virus and bacteria quite a distance into the air which can infect another person. Infection is most likely if the particles are inhaled or deposited on mucus membranes and other sensitive places on another person’s body.

  • It is very important for sick and infected people to wear facial masks to protect others from their infection.

  • For healthy people, masks are a good precaution to help limit risk of infection.


QUESTION: How big of a chance does a cough or sneeze have of transmitting a virus or bacteria onto another person?

ANSWER: This video makes a less scientific, yet very practical and understandable approach, to explain how easily coughs and sneezes can transmit diseases to people around us.


We at BARANI DESIGN Technologies are also indirectly very affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), just as are all people, families, and businesses. Slowing the pace of infection is the single most important thing that we all can do so that the capacities of our health care systems are able to cope with the critically sick, not only from COVID-19, but also from other serious illnesses which are taking away our loved ones.