# Cover your mouth when you cough... even if you're alone?? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 10, 2002, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-your-mouth-when-you-cough-even-if-youre-alone/102900 "2002-04-10T20:37:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kiki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kiki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiki)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2002, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-your-mouth-when-you-cough-even-if-youre-alone/102900/1 "2002-04-10T20:37:20Z")
My parents taught me that you _always_ cover your mouth when you cough no matter what. But do you cover your mouth when no one else is in your vicinity? I have a case of bronchitis and have been coughing _a lot_ the last few days. While I was driving to work this morning I began to cough and I instinctively covered my mouth even though there wasn’t anyone else in the car with me. I think I just do it out of habit. Anyone else do this? ---
**Author:** ![Ferrous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Ferrous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferrous)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2002, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-your-mouth-when-you-cough-even-if-youre-alone/102900/2 "2002-04-10T20:39:51Z")
I do that. Don’t want to be spraying various bodily fluids all over the place, even if no one else is around. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2002, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-your-mouth-when-you-cough-even-if-youre-alone/102900/3 "2002-04-10T20:40:43Z")
I do it too. ---
**Author:** ![EVO95](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@EVO95](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EVO95)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2002, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-your-mouth-when-you-cough-even-if-youre-alone/102900/4 "2002-04-10T20:49:37Z")
It’s definitely the force of habit. I cover instinctively during a cough, but strangely, if I sneeze and I’m alone, it’s open season. And I’ve got the windshield to prove it. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2002, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-your-mouth-when-you-cough-even-if-youre-alone/102900/5 "2002-04-10T22:01:38Z")
When I’m alone, I don’t give a rip. I should, but I’m too lazy. So I spew germs around on myself. Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![easy\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb8c5e/32.png) [@easy\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/easy_e)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2002, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-your-mouth-when-you-cough-even-if-youre-alone/102900/6 "2002-04-10T22:02:10Z")
I do it too, but I’m always sure to cough and sneeze onto my arm or shoulder rather than my hand. Because you can’t always wash your hands right away, so it helps minimize transmission of bacteria/virii/bodily fluids to other people and objects. At least, that’s what I was taught when I first started working in food service. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2002, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-your-mouth-when-you-cough-even-if-youre-alone/102900/7 "2002-04-10T22:11:52Z")
I cover. And I don’t suppress sneezes - I let 'em rip, but I do cover my mouth and nose, just in case… ---
**Author:** ![Lodrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@Lodrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lodrain)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-your-mouth-when-you-cough-even-if-youre-alone/102900/8 "2002-04-11T00:12:58Z")
My habit usually involves me frantically reaching for my hanky and sneezing all over someone loudly while my hand’s still in my back pocket. Embarrassing. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-your-mouth-when-you-cough-even-if-youre-alone/102900/9 "2002-04-11T00:37:11Z")
I usually cover, mainly from habit, but also to avoid a potential snot plume when I sneeze. In any case, I always cover when sitting at my computer, so I don’t have to wipe off the screen. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-your-mouth-when-you-cough-even-if-youre-alone/102900/10 "2002-04-11T15:34:06Z")
Cough/Sneeze-Cover ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-your-mouth-when-you-cough-even-if-youre-alone/102900/11 "2002-04-11T15:40:22Z")
I don’t want to spray on things, so I either cover or kind of tuck my head towards my shoulder/arm like **easy e** mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Pucette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/278dde/32.png) [@Pucette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pucette)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-your-mouth-when-you-cough-even-if-youre-alone/102900/12 "2002-04-11T20:50:27Z")
I always cover. The spray just ain’t pretty.