The virus is thought to spread mainly from person to person through droplet transmission. These respiratory droplets are produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby (within about 1.5 metres). 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 eyes but this is not thought to be the main way that the virus spreads. This is why washing hands frequently is so important.