With increasing cases and deaths over Coronavirus Disease 2019
(COVID-19) pandemic, there’s a lot of misinformation circulating about
the issue. This ranges from unfounded preventing measures and even
cures. But experts have pointed out that a number of these purported
measures are actually false. With the cases growing in Nigeria and
several state governments adopting stringent measures to curb the spread
of the disease, the misinformation has continued to grow. Here are some
of those myths about coronavirus which are not actually true.
1. A vaccine to cure COVID-19 is available.
This is false. There is no vaccine for the new coronavirus presently.
Though scientists are already working on vaccines, the developing a
vaccine that is safe and effective in human beings will take many
months.
2. You may have heard that you can protect yourself from COVID-19
by doing the following: swallowing or gargling your mouth and throat
with bleach, taking acetic acid or steroids, or using essential oils,
salt water, ethanol or other substances. None of these
recommendations is true. None of them can protect you from getting
COVID-19. In fact, some of these practices may be dangerous. The best
ways to protect yourself from this coronavirus (and other viruses)
include: Washing your hands frequently and thoroughly, using soap and
hot water; Avoiding close contact with people who are sick, sneezing or
coughing; In addition, you can avoid spreading your own germs by
coughing into the crook of your elbow and staying home when you are
sick.
3. The new coronavirus was deliberately created or released by people.
This is also false. There no evidence yet to prove this hypothesis. The
truth is that viruses can change over time. According to Lisa Maragakis,
a senior director of infection prevention at Johns Hopkins,
Occasionally, a disease outbreak happens when a virus that is common in
an animal such as a pig, bat or bird undergoes changes and passes to
humans. This is likely how the new coronavirus came to be.
4. Ordering or buying products shipped from China will make a person sick.
This is false. The truth is that for now, scientists have said that most
viruses like this one do not stay alive for very long on surfaces, so
it is not likely you would get COVID-19 from a package that was in
transit for days or weeks. The illness is most likely transmitted by
droplets from an infected person’s sneeze or cough, but more information
is emerging daily, says Maragakis.
5. A face mask will protect you from COVID-19.
This is very untrue. The truth is that certain models of professional,
tight-fitting respirators (such as the N95) can protect health care
workers as they care for infected patients. Maragakis adds that for the
general public without respiratory illness, wearing lightweight
disposable surgical masks is not recommended. Because they don’t fit
tightly, they may allow tiny infected droplets to get into the nose,
mouth or eyes. Also, people with the virus on their hands who touch
their face under a mask might become infected. People with a respiratory
illness can wear these masks to lessen their chance of infecting
others. Bear in mind that stocking up on masks makes fewer available for
sick patients and health care workers who need them.
6. Drinking hot water with lemons will cure or prevent COVID-19
This is one very popular therapy on social media platforms allegedly
attributed to ‘scientists’. It further claims that drinking hot water
with lemons and sodium bicarbonate will “alkalize the immune system” and
cure or prevent COVID-19. This claim is very false.
One claim, attributed to a Chinese researcher, implores readers to “use
as much natural vitamin C” as possible and suggests lemons as a good
source. To that point, the post claims that regular consumption of a
drink made from three lemon slices and hot water helps “against the
spread of [COVID-19]” and “destroys the virus.” While vitamin C does
play a role in several immune system functions, its use as a treatment
to prevent or cure viral infections is unsupported by science, reports
Snopes.com.
Lemon and hot water used as a vitamin C therapy will not “kill” or “slow
the spread” of COVID-19, nor would it provide a clinically significant
amount of vitamin C to begin with. A buffered solution of hot lemon
juice and sodium bicarbonate, similarly, will do nothing to change the
pH of either your body or your immune system Snopes.com. For these
reasons both lemon-related “cures” are rated “False.”
7. Can you get infected while having sex with infected person?
This is actually not a fact except you engage in kissing. The virus
isn’t considered a traditional sexually transmitted disease since it’s
not spread via contact with genitals. But since it’s transmitted through
respiratory droplets, kissing can spread it.
How else is it spread? Coughing and sneezing and through close
person-to-person contact that might transfer those droplets — i.e. if a
sick person coughs or sneezes into their hand and then shakes yours, or
from hugging and kissing an infected individual. It’s now believed the
virus can also live on certain hard surfaces, such as plastic or
stainless steel, for up to 72 hours.
8. You can’t catch coronavirus from your pet
Presently there’s no evidence that pets, livestock, or wildlife can
transmit the disease to humans. Scientists are still studying to see if
humans can pass it on to their pets.
9. Will the coronavirus pandemic end once warmer weather arrives?
No, not at all. There’s no evidence to prove that the coronavirus
pandemic will end with rising temperatures. This won’t bring the
coronavirus spread to a halt. The idea that this is just going to blow
over once spring and summer arrives is incorrect, according to
scientists. Though the spread may slow slightly simply because there
tends to be less coughing and sneezing during the warm months, but the
virus is so easily transmissible that it will continue to circulate if
measures are not taken to slow it down.
10. Over-the-counter meds won’t make COVID-19 symptoms worse
You may have heard that OTC pain meds like ibuprofen or acetaminophen
can make coronavirus worse, but the World Health Organization has
debunked that notion and other medical experts agree. “That rumor just
adds to the panic — there’s no scientific evidence to back it up,” says
Dr. Dasgupta.
11. COVID-19 virus can be transmitted in areas with hot and humid climates
From the evidence so far, the COVID-19 virus can be transmitted in ALL
AREAS, including areas with hot and humid weather. Regardless of
climate, adopt protective measures if you live in, or travel to an area
reporting COVID-19. The best way to protect yourself against COVID-19 is
by frequently cleaning your hands. By doing this you eliminate viruses
that may be on your hands and avoid infection that could occur by then
touching your eyes, mouth, and nose.
12. Taking a hot bath does not prevent the new coronavirus disease
Taking a hot bath will not prevent you from catching COVID-19. Your
normal body temperature remains around 36.5°C to 37°C, regardless of the
temperature of your bath or shower. Actually, taking a hot bath with
extremely hot water can be harmful, as it can burn you. The best way to
protect yourself against COVID-19 is by frequently cleaning your hands.
By doing this you eliminate viruses that may be on your hands and avoid
infection that could occur by then touching your eyes, mouth, and nose.
13. The new coronavirus CANNOT be transmitted through mosquito bites.
To date there has been no information nor evidence to suggest that the
new coronavirus could be transmitted by mosquitoes. The new coronavirus
is a respiratory virus which spreads primarily through droplets
generated when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or through droplets
of saliva or discharge from the nose. To protect yourself, clean your
hands frequently with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap
and water. Also, avoid close contact with anyone who is coughing and
sneezing.
14. Are hand dryers effective in killing the new coronavirus?
No. Hand dryers are not effective in killing the 2019-nCoV. To protect
yourself against the new coronavirus, you should frequently clean your
hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
Once your hands are cleaned, you should dry them thoroughly by using
paper towels or a warm air dryer.
15. Can an ultraviolet disinfection lamp kill the new coronavirus?
UV lamps should not be used to sterilize hands or other areas of skin as UV radiation can cause skin irritation.
16. Can spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body kill the new coronavirus?
No. Spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body will not kill
viruses that have already entered your body. Spraying such substances
can be harmful to clothes or mucous membranes (i.e. eyes, mouth). Be
aware that both alcohol and chlorine can be useful to disinfect
surfaces, but they need to be used under appropriate recommendations.
17. Do vaccines against pneumonia protect you against the new coronavirus?
No. Vaccines against pneumonia, such as pneumococcal vaccine and
Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib) vaccine, do not provide protection
against the new coronavirus.
The virus is so new and different that it needs its own vaccine.
Researchers are trying to develop a vaccine against 2019-nCoV, and WHO
is supporting their efforts.
Although these vaccines are not effective against 2019-nCoV, vaccination
against respiratory illnesses is highly recommended to protect your
health.
18.Can regularly rinsing your nose with saline help prevent infection with the new coronavirus?
No. There is no evidence that regularly rinsing the nose with saline has
protected people from infection with the new coronavirus.
There is some limited evidence that regularly rinsing nose with saline
can help people recover more quickly from the common cold. However,
regularly rinsing the nose has not been shown to prevent respiratory
infections.
19. Can eating garlic help prevent infection with the new coronavirus?
Garlic is a healthy food that may have some antimicrobial properties.
However, there is no evidence from the current outbreak that eating
garlic has protected people from the new coronavirus.
20. Are antibiotics effective in preventing and treating the new coronavirus?
No, antibiotics do not work against viruses, only bacteria.
The new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is a virus and, therefore, antibiotics should not be used as a means of prevention or treatment.
However, if you are hospitalized for the 2019-nCoV, you may receive antibiotics because bacterial co-infection is possible.
21. Does the new coronavirus affect older people, or are younger people also susceptible?
People of all ages can be infected by the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
Older people, and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as
asthma, diabetes, heart disease) appear to be more vulnerable to
becoming severely ill with the virus.
WHO advises people of all ages to take steps to protect themselves from
the virus, for example by following good hand hygiene and good
respiratory hygiene.
(With reports from John Hopkins Medicine, Good House Keeping, WHO)
MassMediaNG