With information on the COVID-19 pandemic spreading faster than the virus itself, it is very important to separate fact from myth. Regularly washing your hands and observing physical distancing are some of the most important steps to stop the spread of the disease.
You may have heard of other home remedies or received advice from your friends and colleagues about the disease. Here are some of the most common coronavirus myths and the truth about them!
______________________________________
Myth
Exposing yourself to the sun or to temperatures higher than 25C degrees prevents COVID-19.
Fact
You can catch COVID-19, no matter how sunny or hot the weather is. Countries with hot weather have reported cases of COVID-19.
______________________________________
Myth
Eating garlic provides protection against the coronavirus.
Fact
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.
______________________________________
Myth
The coronavirus affects only the elderly.
Fact
People of all ages can be infected by COVID-19. Older people and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease) are more likely to become severely ill if they contract the virus.
______________________________________
Myth
You cannot recover completely from the coronavirus disease.
Fact
Catching COVID-19 does not mean you will have it for life. Most of the people who catch the coronavirus can recover and eliminate the virus from the body.
______________________________________
Myth
Being able to hold your breath for 10 seconds or more without coughing means you’re free from COVID-19.
Fact
You cannot confirm if you have coronavirus with this breathing exercise, which can even be dangerous for you. The best way to confirm if you have the virus producing COVID-19 disease is with a laboratory test.
______________________________________
Myth
Taking a hot bath prevents the new coronavirus disease.
Fact
Taking a hot bath does 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.
______________________________________
Myth
A vaccine to cure COVID-19 is available.
Fact
There is no vaccine for the new coronavirus right now. Scientists have already begun working on one, but developing a vaccine that is safe and effective in human beings will take many months.
______________________________________
Myth
Antibiotics are effective in preventing and treating the new coronavirus.
Fact
No, antibiotics do not work against viruses, only bacteria. However, if you are hospitalised for the COVID-19, you may receive antibiotics because bacterial co-infection is possible.
______________________________________
Myth
Thermal scanners are effective in detecting people infected with the new coronavirus.
Fact
Thermal scanners can detect whether someone has a fever. However, other conditions, such as seasonal flu, can also cause fever.
In addition, symptoms of COVID-19 can appear between two and 10 days after infection, which means that someone infected with the virus could have a normal temperature for a few days before a fever begins.
______________________________________
Myth
The new coronavirus was deliberately created or released by people.
Fact
Viruses can change over time. 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.
______________________________________
Myth
Cold weather kills COVID-19.
Fact
All parts of the world, including places with colder weather, have COVID-19 infections.
______________________________________
Myth
Ordering or buying products shipped from overseas can infect you with COVID-19.
Fact
The likelihood of becoming infected with COVID-19 from a commercial package is low since it has likely traveled over several days and been exposed to different temperatures and conditions during transit.
______________________________________
Information sources: WHO, Johns Hopkins University and Stanford University.
