Does the influenza virus just float everywhere? Can you catch a cold by let’s say walking in the woods, slightly underdressed and not making contact with any sick person?
In: Biology
If you’re complexity isolated with no outside contact of any kind – you won’t get a virus.
However – don’t forget fomites. These are surfaces/objects that may come into contact with you that have deposited pathogens on them. Simply getting a food order or a package delivered – although unlikely – is enough to transmit something.
Some pathogens can live outside the body for weeks (Norwalk virus anyone?) but most live for less than one hour, especially when exposed to UV light.
So unless you’re *completely* isolated, there’s always some minor vector. That’s why hand washing is so important.
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