# COVID-19 transmission by touch - update? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [May 20, 2020, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-transmission-by-touch-update/854188 "2020-05-20T15:19:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2020, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-transmission-by-touch-update/854188/1 "2020-05-20T15:19:55Z")
I swear I saw a headline within the last few days (say 5/16 to 5/19) that said that the CDC (or some official-sounding organization) has revised their estimates of COVID transmission by touch. Their new guidelines now say that this mode of transmission is considered very unlikely. But, I can’t find the article - did anyone else see this? Please you post a link if you can find it. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2020, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-transmission-by-touch-update/854188/2 "2020-05-20T16:13:27Z")
The [CDC quietly updated their website](https://bgr.com/2020/05/20/coronavirus-spread-cdc-says-transmission-from-surfaces-is-unlikely/) on May 12 to lessen the emphasis on transmission through contaminated surfaces. There isn’t new research to show it _doesn’t_ happen, it sounds like it’s more a case that research is showing other paths are more likely. The [language on the CDC website](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-covid-spreads.html) about surface contact is still mostly the same: > [@CDC](#): > > It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes. This is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads, but we are still learning more about this virus. However, this blurb previously was under its own heading of “Spread from contact with contaminated surfaces or objects.” It has now been moved under the heading “The virus does not spread easily in other ways.” ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2020, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-transmission-by-touch-update/854188/3 "2020-05-20T16:16:29Z")
That’s what I saw - thank you.