Healthy Living

8 Facts vs Myths About The Coronavirus

The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, belongs to a large family of viruses that can cause potentially fatal respiratory complications. In humans, this is known to cause respiratory infections that can range from the common cold to more severe symptoms. We initially thought that COVID-19 only affected the older population and those with pre-existing conditions, however, recent cases have shown that people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s can be severely affected by the virus. 

There’s so much information out there about the virus, making it difficult to discern what is real and what is a myth. Here are some facts and myths that we have broken down: 

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     1. You can recover from the coronavirus. 

  • Fact - Most of the people who become infected with COVID-19 can recover and eliminate the virus from their bodies. If you catch the disease, you must treat your symptoms. If you experience a cough, fever, and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention immediately. The earlier you treat the virus, the better.

     2. Certain medications can prevent or treat COVID-19.

  • Myth - Currently, there is no specific medication that is recommended to prevent or treat the coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Some treatments are being investigated and will be tested through clinical trials. 

     3. The coronavirus can be transmitted through mosquito bites.

  • Myth - The coronavirus is a respiratory virus that spreads primarily through droplets in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or through droplets of saliva.

     4. The virus cannot be transmitted in hot and humid environments.

  • Myth - The virus can be transmitted in all environments.  However, it is still unknown if heat can lower its severity.

     5. Handwashing is the best defense against the coronavirus.

  • Fact - With no available vaccine, handwashing is your best line of defense against the coronavirus. Handwashing is the recommended way to prevent the virus, as soap and water together break it down. 

     6. You can take antibiotics to prevent and treat the coronavirus.

  • Myth -  Antibiotics do not work against viruses, only against bacteria. The coronavirus is a virus, therefore, antibiotics should not be used for prevention or treatment.

     7. Regularly rinsing your nose with saline helps prevent the virus.

  • Myth - While there is limited evidence that regularly rinsing your nose with saline helps people recover quicker from the common cold, there is no evidence to support the claim that doing this will help prevent respiratory infections like the coronavirus.

     8. An ultra-violet disinfection lamp can kill the virus.

  • Myth - UV lamps should not be used to sterilize hands or any other areas of the skin. UV radiation may cause skin irritation.

Finding Reliable Information

Many people are tuning in daily to news channels and podcasts to find out the most up-to-date information on the coronavirus. However, people should be wary about reading eye-catching headlines from articles and look for reliable and unbiased information on COVID-19. To protect your family and yourself from the virus and follow the recommended practices, the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websites are ideal for staying up-to-date. Being home on lockdown may make you feel compelled to read articles that unsettle you, however, it is more reliable to check the above-mentioned government websites. 

Resources

https://www.nih.gov/health-information/coronavirus

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html