Wearing masks in public, social distancing, and washing your hands frequently in the battle against the coronavirus may not protect you from the common cold.

That is because, unlike COVID-19, colds come from a variety of viruses — not just one.

According to Consumer Reports, there are hundreds of different viruses that cause the common cold, making it more difficult for us to dodge an army of pathogens.

“Even with COVID cases surging in many parts of the country, you are probably more likely to come into contact with someone who has a cold than someone who has COVID-19,” said Dr. Catherine Troisi, an epidemiologist and associate professor of community health at the University of Texas Health School of Public Health. Four coronaviruses, relatives of SARS-CoV-2, and 160 rhinoviruses are among the multitude of viruses that cause colds.

It’s the rhinoviruses that may be the main villains, say experts, because they are extremely hardy and can survive more than 24 hours on surfaces, outwitting our best efforts to protect ourselves, according to Consumer Reports.

According to Wired, rhinoviruses are back as schools and daycare centers reopen. Catherine Moore, a virologist from Wales said, “This is exactly what we’d expert during a normal back-to-school season.”

While colds, like COVID-19, can be airborne, it’s more likely that you will catch a cold from touching a contaminated surface, especially if you are taking the precautionary steps laid out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“It could be as simple as touching a doorknob, a pen, or a shopping cart that someone with a cold has recently touched,” said Elizabeth Barnett, M.D., a pediatric infectious disease expert from Boston, Massachusetts. “We still touch a lot of surfaces even if we’re making essential trips.”

According to Consumer Reports, the reason that we are still getting colds despite our best efforts is that the precautions we are taking are not perfect. Even small slips like taking off your mask or having face-to-face contact can invite germs in. Touching infected surfaces and then our faces can also cause the transmission of cold viruses.

Dr. William Schaffner, M.D., an infectious disease expert from Vanderbilt University, warns that people can still spread the cold virus, like the virus that causes COVID-19, if they do not have symptoms.

“You can be without symptoms and still spread the cold virus for 24 to 48 hours before you feel sick,” he said, according to Consumer Reports. Schaffner says that cold symptoms usually strike from the neck, but signs of chest congestion, difficulty breathing, persistent cough, or high fever could signal something requiring medical attention. Here is a guide to help distinguish the different symptoms of colds, influenza, and COVID-19.