Common human coronaviruses were first identified in the 1960s, and are well-known causes of the common cold and flu. There are four main subgroupings of human coronaviruses, and they are mainly transmitted through contact with bodily fluid from an infected person by simple acts like coughing and sneezing. Microscopic droplets produced by the infected person can be inhaled by someone nearby, that is,  usually within a three to six-foot radius, or they can also be transmitted via contact with a contaminated surface that was one that was just coughed upon, and then inadvertently touching one’s face or rubbing one’s eyes, or by something as simple as sharing a spoon to taste someone’s dessert.

SARS or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome,  MERS or  Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, and now COVID-19 or coronavirus disease 2019,  are zoonotic coronaviruses – viruses that have jumped the species barrier from their normal animal hosts to humans. This can happen through direct contact with an infected animal, as well as indirect contact or eating contaminated food. Zoonotic diseases are also very common and once transmitted to humans, they can spread through person-to-person contact as well, making proper handwashing and other preventative actions.