According to recent scientific understanding, what practices help prevent COVID-19 transmission?

The best choice is grounded in a comprehensive approach to preventing the transmission of COVID-19. Social distancing and washing hands emerge as critical practices that can significantly reduce the spread of the virus. Maintaining physical distance from others minimizes the likelihood of airborne transmission, while regular handwashing helps eliminate the virus from surfaces we may touch, thereby interrupting potential routes of infection.

Vaccination is another essential practice that greatly contributes to reducing transmission and severity of the disease, but it is not the sole measure by itself. Effective prevention strategies consist of a combination of practices, which include wearing masks, social distancing, frequent handwashing, and vaccination, all working together to provide a robust defense against COVID-19.

Focusing solely on one method, such as only wearing masks or relying solely on vaccination, does not capture the holistic view of public health measures recommended by health authorities. Therefore, the answer highlighting both social distancing and handwashing underscores crucial practices recommended by scientific research to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission.