They buy this crucial time through tactics that may include widespread testing to identify carriers, quarantining the infected and people they've interacted with, and physical distancing.
Scientists drew on the anatomy and flight data of peregrines and parrotlets to model bird landings, accounting for variables such as the angle and distance to an object.
And that means thing such as covering up your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, wearing a mask, washing your hands, physically distancing yourself to the extent possible from others.
It means it's easy for you to get if you need it, but " at hand" can also refer not just to physical objects, but to concepts such as time and distance.
If scientists had to read or write them out in full when they were discussing things like the molecules of water in a swimming pool or the distance to the Orion nebula, it would take up pages of books.