How quickly you can be infected with covid-19

A few minutes in the same room as an infected person. That's all it takes to get covid-19, according to a study at Lund University of Technology (LTH).

» Published: December 31 2024

How quickly you can be infected with covid-19
Photo: Gorm Kallestad/Scanpix/TT

Aerosol researchers at LTH are behind the study where the virus's infectivity has been mapped in around 40 people with confirmed covid infection.

"Aerosols are small airborne particles, and exhaled aerosols from a single person can transfer covid infection to others within a few minutes under normal indoor conditions", says Malin Alsved, research leader in a press release.

The researchers have arrived at the result by measuring exhaled air from infected people and a calculation method for the spread and inhalation of aerosol particles in indoor air.

The study also shows that you get infected faster if the sick person has already been in the room for a while, so that a uniform concentration of the virus has had time to form in the air.

"In small and medium-sized rooms, the virus spreads quickly in the air, and then it doesn't help to keep a distance to reduce the risk of getting infected yourself", says Malin Alsved.

The results of the study, which have been published in Scientific Report, also show that the amount of virus from the infected person is largest at the beginning of the infection, right when the symptoms start.

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Social Democrats Push to End
1 MIN READ

Social Democrats Push to End Sickness Allowance Deduction

Kristersson: Sweden Intensifies Efforts for
2 MIN READ

Kristersson: Sweden Intensifies Efforts for Journalist Detained in Turkey

EU Ready to Tackle US
2 MIN READ

EU Ready to Tackle US Tariffs Says Swedish PM Kristersson

Google to Slow Pixel Phone
2 MIN READ

Google to Slow Pixel Phone Charging for Better Battery Health

Teen Sentenced to Nearly 9
1 MIN READ

Teen Sentenced to Nearly 9 Years for Murder of 16-Year-Old in Stockholm

Sinkhole Disrupts Train Traffic Between
1 MIN READ

Sinkhole Disrupts Train Traffic Between Gothenburg and Stockholm

Sweden Allocates 500 Million Kronor
2 MIN READ

Sweden Allocates 500 Million Kronor to Enhance Psychiatric Care

Postcode Lottery Halts Phone Sales
2 MIN READ

Postcode Lottery Halts Phone Sales After Aggressive Tactics Exposed

Working Longer Boosts Pensions More
2 MIN READ

Working Longer Boosts Pensions More Than Higher Fees

Boy Under 15 Arrested in
1 MIN READ

Boy Under 15 Arrested in Attempted Murder Case in Sweden

Report Highlights Workplace Vulnerability of
2 MIN READ

Report Highlights Workplace Vulnerability of Young Women in Sweden

Fasting Three Days a Week
3 MIN READ

Fasting Three Days a Week Yields Greater Weight Loss Than Calorie Cutting

Medicine Turns Human Blood Toxic
2 MIN READ

Medicine Turns Human Blood Toxic to Mosquitoes, Offering Malaria Hope

Explosion at Malmö Apartment Building
1 MIN READ

Explosion at Malmö Apartment Building Under Investigation

Two Seriously Injured in Ydre
1 MIN READ

Two Seriously Injured in Ydre Car Crash; Police Investigate Negligence

Suspicious Object in Malmö Deemed
1 MIN READ

Suspicious Object in Malmö Deemed Harmless by Police

Lena Nyberg Takes Helm of
1 MIN READ

Lena Nyberg Takes Helm of Sami Truth Commission

Tony's Chocolonely Recalls Chocolate Over
1 MIN READ

Tony's Chocolonely Recalls Chocolate Over Stone Contamination Risk

Sweden Expands Conscription Eligibility with
1 MIN READ

Sweden Expands Conscription Eligibility with Streamlined Process

Suspect Detained in Uddevalla Mosque
1 MIN READ

Suspect Detained in Uddevalla Mosque Fire Investigation

Critics Urge Sweden to Scrap
2 MIN READ

Critics Urge Sweden to Scrap Proposal on Lifestyle-Based Permit Revocation

Swedes Enjoy Longer Lives but
2 MIN READ

Swedes Enjoy Longer Lives but Face Growing Health Inequality

Stockholm Region's Journalist Register Sparks
2 MIN READ

Stockholm Region's Journalist Register Sparks Privacy Concerns

Woman Hospitalized After Attempted Murder
1 MIN READ

Woman Hospitalized After Attempted Murder in Örsundsbro, Suspect Arrested

Journalist Joakim Medin Declares from
2 MIN READ

Journalist Joakim Medin Declares from Turkish Prison: Journalism Is Not a Crime

Fredrick Federley Eyes Return to
1 MIN READ

Fredrick Federley Eyes Return to Center Party Politics in Sweden

Kristersson: Swedish Efforts Intensify for
1 MIN READ

Kristersson: Swedish Efforts Intensify for Journalist's Release in Turkey

Nina Larsson Steps In as
2 MIN READ

Nina Larsson Steps In as Sweden's New Gender Equality Minister

75-Year-Old Woman Arrested in Ale
1 MIN READ

75-Year-Old Woman Arrested in Ale for Suspected Murder of Elderly Man

New Blood Marker Tracks Alzheimer's
2 MIN READ

New Blood Marker Tracks Alzheimer's Progression, Aiding Drug Approval

Stefan Löfven Leaves Facebook Citing
1 MIN READ

Stefan Löfven Leaves Facebook Citing Concerns Over Democracy

Sweden to Announce New Minister
1 MIN READ

Sweden to Announce New Minister for Gender Equality and Labor Market

Region Skåne to Pay 80
1 MIN READ

Region Skåne to Pay 80 Million Kronor in Ambulance Dispute Settlement

Greta Thunberg Removed by Police
1 MIN READ

Greta Thunberg Removed by Police During Stockholm Climate Protest

Man in His 50s Killed
1 MIN READ

Man in His 50s Killed by Falling Beam in Mölndal Workplace Accident

Swedish Teen Sentenced to 8
1 MIN READ

Swedish Teen Sentenced to 8 Years in Denmark for Attempted Murder

Sweden Considers Deportation for Misbehavior
3 MIN READ

Sweden Considers Deportation for Misbehavior Under New Proposal

Man Arrested in Norrköping Murder
1 MIN READ

Man Arrested in Norrköping Murder Investigation

Death in Fjärås Ruled Non-Criminal
1 MIN READ

Death in Fjärås Ruled Non-Criminal After Investigation

Swedish Armed Forces Ordered to
1 MIN READ

Swedish Armed Forces Ordered to Pay for PFAS Cleanup in Uppsala