10 myths about coronavirus

March 15, 2020  11:48

There are a lot of myths about the new coronavirus. World Health Organization experts have dispelled some of them:

Myth: Coronavirus is dangerous only in cold countries.

Fact: 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.

Myth: Cold and snow can kill coronavirus.

Fact: There is no reason to believe that cold weather can kill the new coronavirus or other diseases. The normal human body temperature remains around 36.5°C to 37°C, regardless of the external temperature or weather. The most effective way to protect yourself against the new coronavirus is by frequently cleaning your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or washing them with soap and water.

Myth: A hot bath can protect against coronavirus infection.

Fact: 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.

Myth: Electric hand dryers are effective against coronavirus.

Fact: 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.

Myth: UV lamps should not be used to sterilize hands or other areas of skin as UV radiation can cause skin irritation.

Fact: You can not use ultraviolet lamps in the fight against coronavirus, and even more so you can not handle their hands.

Myth: Spraying the entire body with alcohol will help protect against coronavirus.

Fact: 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.

Myth: Regular rinsing of the nose with saline will prevent coronavirus infection.

Fact: 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.

Myth: Garlic can protect against coronavirus, so you need to eat it more often.

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: Coronavirus is dangerous only for older people.

Fact: 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.

Myth: Antibiotics are effective against coronavirus.

Fact: 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.

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