During a pandemic, people are not just fighting off the virus; they are also fighting against an “ïnfodemic,” a surge of misinformation and fake news that undermines everyone’s efforts to combat the disease. To arm yourself with the right information, here are some of the most common myths about COVID-19, debunked.
On Killing the Virus
Gargling bleach and spraying chlorine on the body kills the coronavirus instantly.
Chlorine and bleach are both dangerous—they are highly toxic and should not be put on the skin, swallowed, or injected. Even though chlorine is used as a disinfectant on surfaces, it should not be used on the body. It can damage the skin and cause extreme harm to the body, especially if it enters the eyes and mouth. The same goes for bleach—you shouldn’t put bleach in your mouth as it can cause severe damage. The best way to kill the virus is to wash your hands properly with soap and water.
Taking long, hot baths can prevent COVID-19.
Long, hot baths aren’t enough to protect you against the coronavirus. The temperature of your body remains the same, regardless of how long or how hot your bathwater is. A hot bath doesn’t boost your immune system significantly, nor does it kill off any virus inside the body. All clinics, hospitals, patient portal companies, and any other medical institution would tell you that washing hands with soap is still the best way to keep the disease at bay.
Putting out your hand longer on the hand dryer can kill the virus.
Hand dryers can’t kill the coronavirus. The virus is coated with a protective, fatty layer of lipids, which air alone cannot dissolve. Soap, on the other hand, disrupts the position of the lipids and causes the entire layer to break down. The best way to destroy the fatty layer and ultimately destroy the virus is through washing your hands with soap.
Garlic can protect you against the coronavirus.
There is a body of research that shows that garlic can help slow down the bacterial growth. However, COVID-19 is caused by a virus (coronavirus). There is still no evidence that proves garlic can shield you from the disease, so it should not be treated as a “miracle protector.” It’s still advisable to follow a healthy, balanced diet to support and reinforce your immune system.
On the Nature of the Disease
Only the very old and very young can acquire COVID-19.
Any person, regardless of age, can contract the infection. The coronavirus can enter and infect anybody on the age spectrum. However, the very old and very young are more likely to develop serious symptoms because of their compromised immune systems; they are at greatest risk for complications. Some have pre-existing health conditions, like diabetes and asthma, which exacerbates the case.
However, the age groups in between aren’t entirely safe, either. There are some patients in their 30s and 40s who become critically ill after contracting the virus, though many of them have pre-existing conditions. So whatever your age is, you should protect yourself from the virus.
COVID-19 isn’t serious; it’s just like the flu.
COVID-19 has flu-like symptoms, so it’s easy for people to simply dismiss it as “something like the flu.” However, COVID-19 is far more serious than the flu, which is why people are urged to take extreme protective measures. Different countries report different mortality rates, but overall, the mortality rate of this disease is likely far higher than that of seasonal flu. Some estimates peg COVID-19’s mortality rate between 3 and 4%, while seasonal flu tends to be below 0.1%.
On Virus Transmission
Parcels from countries with numerous cases can spread coronavirus.
The main mode of transmission of the coronavirus is through person-to-person contact. Infected droplets from a sick person could enter the next person’s body via the mouth, nose, or eyes. There’s not enough research to prove that it can spread via parcels; it is believed that the virus cannot survive long on letters or packages. Thus, there’s a very low risk of transmission via packages that have been shipped over a few days and exposed to varying temperatures and conditions.
The virus dies when the temperature rises.
Some viruses, like the cold and flu, spread slower during the warm months, but this doesn’t mean that the coronavirus will behave the same way. Scientists are still in the dark about how temperature changes affect the behavior of the coronavirus. It is important to note that even warmer regions around the world experience an outbreak of COVID-19. For now, it is advisable to stay vigilant and uphold protective measures despite the rising temperature.
Alcohol can protect you against COVID-19
Even though alcohol can disinfect the skin, it doesn’t work the same way inside the body. In fact, the result is the opposite. Alcohol has long been associated with health risks, such as liver diseases. The WHO stated that it can even make you more susceptible to COVID-19 because alcohol compromises the immune system. In fact, the WHO urged governments to create regulations to limit alcohol consumption, to keep the population strong and healthy.
Healthy people don’t have to practice social distancing.
Some virus carriers are asymptomatic, meaning, even if the virus lives in their bodies, they have no outward, flu-like symptoms. This can trick people into believing that they are healthy and virus-free. However, asymptomatic people can still spread the virus to more vulnerable populations. So even if you think you’re healthy, you should still practice social distancing to avoid possibly spreading the virus. Moreover, social distancing also ensures you won’t acquire the infection from other seemingly healthy, asymptomatic individuals.
To fully protect yourself from diseases, a solid knowledge of the right way to kill the virus is necessary. It ensures that all the extreme measures you follow won’t end up in vain.
