Coronavirus Scare: 13 Common Myths People May Have About COVID-19

There are a lot of misconceptions and confusion around the spread, symptoms and causes of the novel coronavirus disease. Coronavirus is a name of a family of viruses that can cause disease in animals and humans. This coronavirus family generally causes respiratory problems in people.

COVID-19 is a name of the disease which was chosen by the World Health Organisation as the disease when it was first detected in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. COVID-19 has also been declared as a pandemic as it has spread throughout the world.

The name of the virus responsible for COVID-19 is SARS-COV-2. As the number of cases increase, the misinformation regarding this virus too has been on the rise. Here¡¯s some of the myths that we have tried to bust.

1. Can dogs or pets get infected with coronavirus?

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This myth propagated because one dog in Hong Kong was tested positive with coronavirus. However, the World Health Organization stepped in and clarified that dogs or any pet cannot spread the virus. Dogs are at risk of being vulnerable to coronavirus but they are not going to get infected with this strain of the virus.

2. Bats are the true origin of coronavirus.

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There is no solid evidence or confirmation that backs the claim that bats are the source of coronavirus. Although scientists do suspect them. They believe that the virus was transferred from bat to a pangolin and then it was transferred to humans. However, some experts also believe that snakes that are sold at the market in Wuhan, could be the source of this virus. Scientists are still trying to figure it out whether the virus came from the same source and the process has been slow.

3. Does Vitamin C help in curing the virus

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There is no cure for COVID-19 currently as reports state but experts are working to find one. No antibiotics or medicines that were used to cure SARS that first spread in China in 2002 are working on this strain of the virus either.

4. Ayurveda, Homeopathy and other herbal medicines can cure coronavirus.

This has no scientific proof to support the claim that ayurveda or homeopathy is effective against COVID-19.

5. Heat in summer months will see a decline in the spread of coronavirus.

COVID-19 is a part of SARS and MERS infection. This family of viruses typically survive better in winter, and there is no definite proof that COVID-19 will play by the same rules. At best this is a false hope that summer would kill the virus.

6. Hot bath or drinking hot water can kill coronavirus.

Coronavirus symptoms are mild fever, cough, sore throat, headache, body ache etc. Drinking warm water will make you feel better but cannot cure you of the virus. WHO (World Health Organisation) also states that having a bath in hot water won¡¯t work on the coronavirus since the body temperature remains at an average regardless of the temperature of your bath or shower.

7. Using hand dryer or UV light will kill virus.

No, these won¡¯t help sanitise your hands. Using soap and water is the best way to get rid of the virus. UV lights can also irritate your skin due to the radiation. Hand sanitizers that have more than 60 per cent alcohol by content can be used in an emergency.

8. Only old people be affected.

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While you can say old people are getting more affected by the virus, people who have pre-existing conditions like liver, kidney or diabetes are also being seriously affected. Young people can be infected as well, but they might show fewer symptoms or mild signs of the virus. They should practice social distancing from people who are affected by the virus.

9. Garlic helps fight against coronavirus.

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There's no scientific proof that garlic can help against coronavirus.

10. Not safe to receive anything from China.

The claim doing the rounds stated that the virus could be detected in the air up to three hours later, up to four hours on copper material, up to 24 hours on cardboard, up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel. As this has not been tested by scientists there's no proof that the virus can be imported on goods.

11. Eating non-vegetarian food or meat spreads coronavirus.

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The disease does not spread through consumption of chicken, mutton or fish and if you are not eating these, it doesn¡¯t make increase your chances of being safe. The virus spreads through a person who has it and gets transferred through contact.

12. Drinking cow¡¯s urine can cure coronavirus.

This claim is mostly being propagated in India. People are relying on cow¡¯s urine (gomutra) which has no scientific backing whatsoever.

13. Taking Shower with Cow dung can cure you of coronavirus.

The most irrelevant myth you've ever heard. Here¡¯s what's wrong with this - people doing this are making themselves more vulnerable to other diseases as the prevention is to be clean and hygienic.

Precautions and methods to prevent yourself from the virus

• Wash your hands for about 20 seconds and apply a sanitizing gel
• Even if you have no symptoms, you should work from home and avoid social gatherings.
• Use a tissue to cough and sneeze to save others from the virus or even a flu.
• If you don¡¯t have a tissue handy then use your sleeve not your hands to sneeze
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
• Avoid physical contact with people who are unwell