Your body is always shedding some sort of virus.

[elizafox@social.treehouse.systems]

Your body is always shedding some sort of virus. And often other pathogens.

It’s a matter of quantity that determines how contagious you are

They come from your respiratory tract, your skin, your GI, everywhere.

You’re welcome.

This is all unavoidable, just a cursed mark of existence as flesh, but not usually a problem. The problem is when you’re shedding lots of pathogens and it’s easily transmissible.

That might be when you’re sick. Or about to get sick. Or have been sick. Or subclinical (Typhoid Mary was a fascinating example).

[elizafox@social.treehouse.systems]

This is why things are so awful for immunocompromised people

They can do everything right. Avoid people who are sick. Mask up. Avoid crowds. And STILL get sick. Because this is just how pathogens are.

Also: I am not saying precautions aren’t worthless. They just reduce your risk. Praise be to harm reduction. Wash your fucking hands. Wear a mask when you’re sick. One should not keep a loaded pistol to another’s head with finger on the trigger just because they may get shot at any moment. Or one’s own head.