A groundbreaking study from Spain's University of Granada ranks everyday activities by COVID-19 infection risk. Grocery shopping, home deliveries, or dog walks—which is most dangerous?
Spain endured a strict lockdown from mid-March to early May 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While France imposed a second confinement on October 30, Spain avoided it. Yet, a recent survey shows six in ten Spaniards would accept another if needed. Researchers from the University of Granada surveyed 2,086 people on their activities during the first lockdown. Their findings, forthcoming in Environmental Research (January 2021), rank infection risks.
Key results: Living with an infected person raises risk by 60%. Commuting to work (vs. remote) increases it by 76%. Dog walking correlates with a 78% higher risk. Most alarmingly, home deliveries boost risk by 94%—making personal shopping safer.
Dog owners may worry, but co-author Cristina Sánchez González clarifies: Current data doesn't confirm dogs as virus carriers. It's unclear if owners pick up the virus from contaminated objects or relaxed hygiene during walks, which involve more social contacts. Fecal transmission is a possibility.
Studies show dogs can test positive without symptoms, sparking concerns over new variants. However, an April 2020 Institut Pasteur study found dogs resist SARS-CoV-2 infection, even from infected owners. Still, pets proved invaluable during lockdowns—a British October 2020 study noted they boosted morale and protected mental health.
