Mythbusters about Covid-19

Expert Author
Charmaine Johnson-Leong Dentist Fort Lauderdale, FL

Dr. Charmaine Johnson-Leong is a Dentist practicing in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Dr. Johnson-Leong specializes in preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases and conditions associated with the mouth and overall dental health. Dentists are trained to carry out such treatment as professional cleaning, restorative, prosthodontic,... more

MYTH BUSTERS ABOUT COVID-19

 

There’s so much information out there about this virus, it’s often hard to discern what is real and what is a myth. Here are some myths according to the WHO.

 

  1. The virus cannot be transmitted in hot, humid environments
  • False - The virus is transmitted in all environments. 
  1. Taking a hot bath prevents you from catching the virus
  • False - your body temperature remains around 36.5 - 37 degrees Celcius even in a hot bath.
  1. Coronavirus can be transmitted through mosquito bites
  • False - 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. 
  1. Are hand dryers effective in killing the virus?
  • No. Hand dryers are not effective in killing the coronavirus. To protect yourself against it, you should frequently clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
  1. Can an ultra-violet disinfection lamp kill the virus?
  • No. UV lamps should not be used to sterilize hands or other areas of skin as UV radiation can cause skin irritation.
  1. Can spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body, kill the virus?
  • No. Spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body will not kill viruses that have already entered your body. It is harmful to clothes or mucous membranes (i.e. eyes, mouth). However, alcohol and chlorine can be useful to disinfect surfaces, but they need to be used under appropriate recommendations.
  1. Can regularly rinsing your nose with saline prevent infection from the virus?
  • No. There is some limited evidence that regularly rinsing your 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.
  1. Can eating garlic help prevent infection from the virus?
  • Garlic is a healthy food that may have some antimicrobial properties but there is no evidence that eating garlic has protected people from the virus.
  1. Are antibiotics effective in preventing and treating the virus?
  • No. Antibiotics work against bacteria and not viruses. Now if you are in the hospital and you develop a bacterial infection on top of having the virus, the antibiotics will help with the bacterial infection.
  1. Do vaccines against pneumonia protect you against the virus?
  • No. The virus is new and there is no vaccine available yet. Vaccines are in human trials now.