Primary COVID-19 transmission is by close contact with infected people; nasopharyngeal swab-based testing provides the highest diagnostic accuracy
Respiratory droplets are considered the main mode of COVID-19 transmission, which can be prevented by protective measures, including physical distancing, good ventilation, and the use of face masks. In parallel, diagnostic testing to identify and isolate infected individuals and their close contacts is a key strategy to slow the spreading of the disease. While alternative methods are under study, nasopharyngeal swab-based RT-PCR testing remains the most accurate and the gold standard method for COVID-19 diagnosis.