This Doctor Busting Myths About COVID-19 Is Probably The Most Important Thing You'll Read Today
A doctor named Dr Faheem Younus who is the Chief Quality Officer and Chief of Infectious Diseases at the University of Maryland kindly took out the time to bust every single myth around coronavirus that is doing rounds on the Internet.
When panic sets in, a lot of minformation is passed around. The latest chaos to target our world is the pandemic coronavirus and ever since it has started spreading around the world, a lot of theories and myths about the virus are also spreading like wildfire.
Even before we can tackle the virus, it is important that correct information be made available and passed along, because the fact of the matter is, a lot of people's lives are being affected by it.
Reuters
A doctor named Dr Faheem Younus, who is the Chief Quality Officer and Chief of Infectious Diseases at the University of Maryland UCH, kindly took out the time to bust every single myth around coronavirus that is doing rounds on the Internet. While there are quite a few organisations, social media pages and news agencies trying to do the same, him being a doctor certainly helps make sure that false information is not being fed to people.
Twitter (Dr Faheem Younus, MD)
He starts off by clearing out the much-heard rumour that the virus will cease to exist during summer season. He informs us that virus is global and even previous pandemics did not follow weather patterns. Unfortunately, that is the case.
So I¡¯m hearing many myths about #COVID-19 and would like to quickly clear the record.
¡ª Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) March 17, 2020
Coronavirus will go away in Sumer months.
Wrong. Previous pandemics didn¡¯t follow weather patterns plus as we enter summer, there will be winter in the Southern Hemisphere. Virus is global.
On the other hand, there are people who are apparently under the delusion that the virus will spread even more during summer season due to mosquito bites. He once again clears out the doubt and informs us that the COVID-19 is an infection spread through respiratory droplets and not blood.
Myth #2: In summer, the virus will spread more due to mosquito bites.
¡ª Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) March 17, 2020
Wrong. This infection is spread via respiratory droplets, not blood. Mosquitos don¡¯t increase spread.
I don't know about everyone else but my Instagram feed is overflowing with people asking me to hold my breath for 10-15 seconds every day to determine whether I am infected or not. Dr Younus clearly states that COVID-19 patients are perfectly capable of holding their breaths for more than 10 seconds while the elderly without the infection might not be able to do even that. Please stop spreading false and redundant information.
Myth #3: If you can hold your breath for ten seconds without discomfort, you don¡¯t have COVID.
¡ª Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) March 17, 2020
Wrong: Most young patients with Coronavirus will be able to hold their breaths for much longer than 10 seconds. And many elderly without the virus won¡¯t be able to do it.
Apparently, people also believe that if COVID-19 testing is not available, donating blood to blood banks will help them find out if they have the infection, since the banks will test it for them. However, blood banks are not doing any testing for coronavirus. There are designated centres where you can get tested and AIR News tweeted a list of the same.
Myth #4: Since COVID testing is unavailable, we should donate blood. The blood bank will test for it.
¡ª Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) March 17, 2020
No blood bank is testing for Coronavirus so this attempt will fail. Blood donation is a sacred exercise; let¡¯s make sure we are motivated by the right reasons.
This one actually sounds like a child made it up. Apparently, there is a myth that claims that since the virus lives in the throat, drinking a lot of water will push it into the stomach where the acid will kill it. I am sorry but did a first-grader come up with this? Thankfully, the doctor rectifies this misinformation.
Myth #5: Coronavirus lives in the throat. So drink lots of water so the virus is pushed into the stomach where the acid will kill it.
¡ª Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) March 17, 2020
Virus may gain entry via throat but it penetrates into the host cells. You can¡¯t wash it away. Excessive water will make you run to the toilet.
For everyone out there who are saying that social distancing is an overreaction and it won't change a thing, this tweet is specifically for you. No one is asking you to panic; just follow some basic guidelines.
Myth #6: All this social distancing is an over reaction. You¡¯ll see that the virus won¡¯t cause much damage.
¡ª Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) March 17, 2020
If we don¡¯t see many infections (I hope) it actually will prove that social distancing worked. Not that the virus was never a big deal.
Apparently, there are also people in the world who are comparing the novel pandemic to car crashes and claiming that people die no matter what so the virus is not a big deal. Dr Younus clarifies the obvious fact that car accidents are not infectious and do not bring a whole country's economy drastically down.
Myth #7: Car accidents kill 30,000 people annually. What¡¯s the big deal with COVID-19?
¡ª Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) March 17, 2020
Car accident are not contagious, their fatalities don¡¯t double every three days, they don¡¯t cause mass panic or a market crash.
He also busts the most common myth that sanitizers can be helpful. As much as it is a good idea to use one, they are no comparison to what actual soap and water can do. So, while it is a good habit if you are carrying one around with you, do not forget to wash your hands with soap. Also, do not panic if your local pharmacy is out of sanitizers.
Myth #8: Hand sanitizers are better than soap and water.
¡ª Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) March 17, 2020
Wrong. Soap and water actually kills and washes away the virus from skin (it can not penetrate our skin cells) plus it also cleans visible soiling if hands. Don¡¯t worry if Purrell was sold out at your supermarket.
People also do not need to frantically clean their homes unless they are taking care of a COVID-19 patient. The virus is unlikely to reach our houses otherwise and the only thing we need to focus on is to maintain at least six feet physical distance from people, in order to avoid getting infected.
Myth #9: One of the best strategies to prevent COVID-19 is to clean every door knob in your home with disinfectants.
¡ª Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) March 17, 2020
Wrong. Hand washing/maintaining 6ft distance is best practice. Unless you¡¯re caring for a COVID patient at home, your home surfaces should not be a big risk.
He also calls BS on the whole conspiracy around the rumour that the virus was spread by the American or Chinese military. He does not even bother correcting anyone here and just expresses his disapproval by saying, 'Really???'
Myth #10: COVID-19 was deliberately spread by (depending upon your politics) the American or Chinese military.
¡ª Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) March 17, 2020
Really???
He ends his myth-busting lesson by asking everyone to stay safe and of course, far away from false information.
That¡¯s it folks. Be well. Be kind. Have faith. See you on the other side. This too shall pass.
¡ª Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) March 17, 2020
