As rapidly becomes the new normal amid the , you may have wondered whether it's still a potential risk to share space and cross paths even at a distance. After all, if people without symptoms , could this mean that any time you leave your house you might be exposed to the virus wafting through the air?

Because this is a brand-new coronavirus, the acknowledges that "we are still learning how it spreads , the severity of illness it causes, and to what extent it may spread in the United States." While more research is needed for a definitive answer to this question, infectious disease experts can shed some light on what they know so far about whether or not the novel coronavirus can spread through the air.

So...is the novel coronavirus airborne?

The short answer is probably notbut it's complicated. And it's also important to note that airborne can mean different things to different people, even experts. In general, a pathogen is considered airborne when it can spread via smaller particles that can remain in the air for long periods of time, says , MD, a specialist in infectious diseases and family physician in Phoenix, Arizona. The exact length of time that viral particles in general hang in the air before they dissipate depends on a variety of factors, including the temperature and humidity of the area, and so on, adds , MD, a former epidemic intelligence service officer in the division of viral diseases at the CDC.

Now let's talk about COVID-19 specifically: When someone who has novel coronavirus coughs or sneezes, the tiny droplets that come out of their nose and mouth are like a tiny cloud of mistand its *possible* that they linger, says Dr. Desai. Experts just don't know at this point for how long, be it a few seconds or more like hours .

But, chances are, even if a fine mist of the novel coronavirus hangs around where the person sprayed the droplets, it's likely only reaching six feet from the point of origination, according to the . As the organization states , "airborne transmission from person-to-person over long distances is unlikely." And just over a week ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus that the novel coronavirus is "not airborne," but instead "spreads from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with #COVID19 coughs or exhales."

Dr. Bhuyan reiterates that message, saying youre most likely to catch it directly from an infected person when they cough or sneeze droplets containing viral particles, and those particles land on your face, body, or a nearby surface (where you could potentially pick them up and then touch your face, for example). And again, were talking pretty tight person-to-person contact. Remember, though: A person might not even know they have novel coronavirus because they're asymptomatic and they can still transmit it via respiratory droplets. So your safest bet is staying six feet away from, well, pretty much everybody as much as you can.

Measles, as another example, is one of the most contagious infectious diseases of all timeand the measles virus can live in the air for up to two hours after an infected person steps out, per the . The , which first emerged in 2012, was also found in infectious form in air samples taken from hospitals where patients were being treated, per a . But the same is not currently thought to be the case for novel coronavirus, notes Dr. Bhuyanthough theres still a lot to learn about how COVID-19 spreads. So, it's important to take all info with a grain of salt as new discoveries pop up.

Regardless of whether COVID-19 can remain in the air for extended periods, t he best ways to protect yourself from getting sick remain the same.

Experts agree: The key to fighting this pandemic is reducing your exposure to the virus as much as you can. On that note, theres no need to avoid the outdoors 24/7 or buy up all of the surgical masks you can find (which you should *actually* only wear if you have the virus and want to avoid spreading it, as ).

Instead, keep doing what youre probably already doing. Stay away from potentially sick people who may sneeze or cough (and if thats you, stay at home to avoid spreading it and cover your mouth with your elbow or sleeve), make sure to , (for at least 20 seconds!), and try to avoid touching your eyes, face, or mouth, says Dr. Desai.

When it comes to social distancing, remember the six-feet rule; thats the distance you need to keep between you and other people in order to reduce your risk of being exposed to the virus if theyre carrying it (even if they don't know it!). Beyond this, when possible, avoid large gatherings of 50-plus people for the next eight weeks, and encourage your friends and family to do the same, per the latest recommendations from the CDC

As you settle in for the long haul, remember that everyone is in this together. And as backwards as it might seem, keeping a physical distance between you and others is one of the best ways you can show friends and family that you care, as well as the among us, including older people and those living with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.