The mysterious spread of corona virus has left the world panicking and amidst all this panicking, there have been plenty of myths circulating around on various social media platforms, from Whatsapp to Facebook and even LinkedIn, it’s what everyone’s talking about. And today we’re busting all the corona myths that you may have been believing in with the help of a doctor and the World Health Organization(WHO), so keep reading!
1. Will corona virus go away in summer?
So I’m hearing many myths about #COVID-19 and would like to quickly clear the record.
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.
— Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) March 17, 2020
2. Mosquitos can be the carriers of the virus?
Myth #2: In summer, the virus will spread more due to mosquito bites.
Wrong. This infection is spread via respiratory droplets, not blood. Mosquitos don’t increase spread.
— Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) March 17, 2020
3. The self-diagnostic 10 second breathing test?
Myth #3: If you can hold your breath for ten seconds without discomfort, you don’t have COVID.
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.
— Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) March 17, 2020
4. Will blood banks test my blood for corona if I donate blood?
Myth #4: Since COVID testing is unavailable, we should donate blood. The blood bank will test for it.
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.
— Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) March 17, 2020
5. Keeping your throat moist and increasing your water intake will kill the virus?
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.
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.
— Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) March 17, 2020
6. Social distancing is more of an over-reactive response.
Myth #6: All this social distancing is an over reaction. You’ll see that the virus won’t cause much damage.
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.
— Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) March 17, 2020
7. Why is everyone panicking over a virus that has only 3.4% mortality rate?
Myth #7: Car accidents kill 30,000 people annually. What’s the big deal with COVID-19?
Car accident are not contagious, their fatalities don’t double every three days, they don’t cause mass panic or a market crash.
— Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) March 17, 2020
8. Sanitizers vs soap & water, what’s a better option?
Myth #8: Hand sanitizers are better than soap and water.
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.
— Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) March 17, 2020
9. Should I be sanitizing everything in my house?
Myth #9: One of the best strategies to prevent COVID-19 is to clean every door knob in your home with disinfectants.
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.
— Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) March 17, 2020
10. Corona is a deliberately spread virus?
Myth #9: One of the best strategies to prevent COVID-19 is to clean every door knob in your home with disinfectants.
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.
— Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) March 17, 2020
11. Can pets catch the corona virus?
3/10: Can my pet catch COVID-19? Can I catch COVID from my pet?
Extremely unlikely. CDC hasn’t received any reports of pets becoming sick with coronavirus. But good hand hygiene and common sense must prevail. https://t.co/vX6vdxwOHO
— Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) March 18, 2020
12. Do bananas and garlic really cure corona?
5/10: Does garlic cure COVID-19? Bananas? Vitamin-C?
Bananas are a fine fruit and garlic is a fine vegetable. But no. There are no clinical trials to suggest they have anti-coronavirus activity. Vitamin-C Is not even a fruit or a vegetable!
— Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) March 18, 2020
13. Can antibiotics fight the coronavirus?
14. Is everyone equally susceptible to the virus?
15. Alcohol and chlorine sprays can stop the virus from entering your body?
16. Can pneumonia vaccines prevent us from corona?
We’re hoping all the myths have been debunked, if you have more questions or myths to debunk, comment them down below and stay safe!
Ibuprofen is not recommended to use in corona virus patients and there are cases of death who used it