COVID-19 Myth Busters- Everything You Must Know

Here’s what the World Health Organization has to say about the Myths Associated with Coronavirus

The world is facing one of the biggest pandemics-COVID-19 and several countries are trying their best to get life back on track.

While most of the nations including the United States are emphasizing making the vaccine for the novel coronavirus, there are a lot of myths related to COVID-19 revolving around the globe.

People start believing things that comfort them without knowing the facts and information derived from research.

According to WHO, the new coronavirus can be transmitted in any environment including the areas with humid and hot climatic conditions.

Here we have clubbed a couple of myths that are believed to be true and shared detailed information regarding the reality behind these rumors.

MYTH-1: Covid-19 Can’t be Transmitted in Hot and Humid Climates

The biggest myth that people have faith in across the world is that the coronavirus can’t be transmitted in the areas that have a hot and humid climate.

As per experts, the virus could spread anywhere regardless of the climate conditions of an area. It can survive in most humid climates and there’s no evidence to date that extreme temperature could kill the virus.

It is crucial for everyone not to believe such myths and follow the guidelines offered by the World Health Organization to prevent the ailment.

What should you do?

MYTH-2: COVID-19 Cold Weather including the areas with Snow can Kill the Virus

One shouldn’t believe this rumor that the virus would be killed in a cold climate and cannot survive in areas with snow.

It is important to understand the fact that the normal body temperature of a human being is around 37°C, which is the reason why climatic conditions can’t affect the survival of the virus. The virus survives on a human body and hence, you need to be more careful.

Every individual should adopt a healthy lifestyle by equally emphasizing on hands hygiene. Sanitizing hands with an alcohol-based rub or washing hands with soap is the only way to prevent the infection.

What else you can do?

MYTH-3: Eating Garlic would Help Preventing Coronavirus Infection

Garlic has great anti-bacterial properties and is one of the healthiest foods but there’s no evidence to date that it helps in preventing COVID-19.

Also, garlic helps in combating flu and the common cold but that doesn’t mean it would be effective in treating coronavirus.

Some people also believe that consuming foods that enhance immunity including ginger, citrus fruits, and broccoli would shun away from any chance of infection. But the reality remains far away.

Here’s what you need to know

MYTH-4: COVID-19 Affects only Older People and Younger People with Good Immunity are Safe

People believing such myths should check the stats released by the officials right away. There’s no such thing that the virus would affect only seniors or people with a medical history.

According to the WHO, people with severe medical conditions like diabetes, heart diseases, cancer, and asthma are more vulnerable to become critically ill.

Furthermore, the virus can infect any individual regardless of age and sex. One should ensure measures that promote hand and respiratory hygiene.

Things to keep in mind

MYTH-5: Taking Hot Bath Prevents Coronavirus

No matter how much hot bath you take throughout the day, there are chances that you may be infected with coronavirus if you aren’t maintaining adequate hand hygiene.

Though you may get enough benefits from a hot water bath like- muscle relaxation, improved blood circulation, lower blood pressure, but there’s still no evidence of prevention of COVID-19.

If a person prefers an extremely hot water bath, it might burn the skin and cause severe irritation, which may last weeks. It is strongly recommended to ensure adequate hand hygiene by washing hands frequently with soap for at least 20 seconds.

This would eliminate any viruses on your hand that may enter your body when you touch your mouth, nose, or eyes.

MYTH-6: Pneumonia Vaccines Protects Individuals from Coronavirus

No vaccine for pneumonia can protect you against coronavirus. There is no vaccine available for the prevention of COVID-19.

The virus isn’t like any other common viruses and it requires its vaccine. Most of the nations including the United States are working on the development of a vaccine for coronavirus but it would surely require some time.

On the other hand, there’s presently no medication available in the entire world that can cure the virus infection and several types of research are being carried out for the same.

MYTH-7: Regular Rinsing Nose with Saline Helps Preventing Infection

No. Researchers and medical practitioners don’t agree on the same. Regular rinsing nose with saline may help relieve symptoms of common cold and flu but isn’t helpful in the case of coronavirus.

Common cold symptoms may be treated more rapidly with the use of saline water for rising nose, say medical experts.

One should ensure minimal touching to nose and mouth for reducing the chance of getting infected %through contaminated hands. Also, keeping a sanitizer with a minimum of 70% of alcohol could be the best option if you are going outdoors.

MYTH-8: Spraying Chlorine or Alcohol on your Body will Kill the Virus

There’s nothing that can chlorine or alcohol do if the virus has entered your body. Spraying alcohol or chlorine on your body won’t kill the virus and may harm you in other ways.

Both of these substances act as disinfectants when used under certain circumstances and it is strongly recommended not to spray them on yourself or even clothes.

You can use an anti-bacterial soap to clean your hands, which in turn would reduce the chance of contamination.

MYTH-9: Everyone with Coronavirus Dies

This statement is completely baseless as people around the world are healthily recovering from the disease. Since 80 percent of the people with COVID-19 are experiencing mild symptoms (as per WHO), there is no need for intensive care at a hospital.

However, this doesn’t mean that this virus isn’t life-threatening. One should take all the precautionary measures to prevent the disease and should strictly follow social distancing.

Here’s what an individual with COVID-19 should do

MYTH-10: Only Facemasks and Sanitizers can Prevent Coronavirus Infection

Since most of the healthcare professionals use adequate masks with tight-fitting, there’s a lesser chance for them to get infected. On the other hand, the individuals wearing masks that don’t fit properly are at a higher chance of getting contaminated.

Also, WHO recommends that only those individuals should wear masks who come in contact with the infected person or have a recent travel history to an infected area.Also, the ones caring for patients with COVID-19 should wear an appropriate mask.

When we talk about the use of sanitizers, it is not necessarily crucial that a sanitizer is the only option to disinfect hands. One can use soap and wash hands properly for a minimum of 20 seconds.

MYTH-11: Home Remedies are Effective in Prevention and Curing COVID-19

No home remedy can be effective in protecting an individual from coronavirus and there’s no evidence of a cure for the disease.

Whether you are having the healthiest diet or including enough Vitamin C in your meals, there’s no hard and fast rule that you can’t be infected with the virus.

Make sure you

MYTH-12: The Virus would Vanish When the Temperature Rises in Summers

Most of the viruses eventually spread more easily in cold temperature but that doesn’t mean that COVID-19 would vanish in summers.

There is no such evidence till date that claim that the virus would survive in extremely hot temperature or not. One shouldn’t believe in the rumors regarding the non-existence of the virus at higher temperatures.

A Reminder

The Crux

The COVID-19 pandemic is undeniably one of the biggest health crises in the world. Everyone’s contribution is necessarily crucial to get over the current scenario.

Every individual needs to ignore the rumors and myths that are completely baseless and should strictly follow the advice offered by the federal government and the WHO. This would ensure the spread of the virus is controlled and people recover at the earliest.

Source: World Health Organization

Disclaimer:The details mentioned above are collected from official sources like WHO and is for informational purpose only. It does not depict the editor’s and publisher’s views.

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