March 26, 2020 | A large number of myths about the coronavirus COVID-19 have come to light in recent weeks, many of them the result of tales told on social media. One of the most popular myths about the disease involves holding your breath for 10 seconds. As the somewhat ridiculous claim goes, holding your breath for 10 seconds each day without coughing indicates that you do not have an infection on your lungs. The idea behind this myth is that anyone with the virus has pulmonary fibrosis, a disease that causes scarring of the lung tissue. There are even reports that the advice came from Stanford University, but that’s completely false, according to the med school. This myth has been shared by thousands on social media but there is no truth to it, holding your breath is not considered to be a helpful test to determine the strength of your lungs. To have a proper diagnosis of COVID-19, the patient will need a variety of tests performed by a doctor.

March 26, 2020 | When it comes to dangerous diseases like the coronavirus COVID-19, it’s best to rely on reputable sources of information rather than social media to determine the best way to treat them. For example, you may have heard that COVID-19 can only be transmitted in areas with certain kinds of weather or temperatures. The virus can actually be transmitted in all areas around the world, including areas with hot and humid weather, and no, cold weather and snow cannot kill the new coronavirus. The World Health Organization, an agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health, says there is no reason to believe cold weather can kill the new coronavirus, or any other diseases, for that matter. And despite what you may have heard, antibiotics will not protect you against COVID-19 as antibiotics do not work against viruses, only bacteria. As of right now, there is no specific medication recommended to prevent or treat the new virus.

March 26, 2020 | Will spraying alcohol or chlorine all over someone’s body kill the coronavirus COVID-19? And no, this is not an April Fool’s Day joke. Despite what you have heard or read on the Internet, spraying alcohol or chlorine on your body or anyone else’s will not kill any viruses that have already entered the body. The World Health Organization warns that spraying such substances can actually be harmful to your clothes and your body’s mucous membranes, moist tissue that lines the nose, mouth and lungs. As for the notion that children cannot catch COVID-19, all age groups can become infected. Most cases, so far, have been in adults but children are not immune. In fact, preliminary evidence shows that children are just as likely to become infected, but their symptoms tend to be less severe. Older adults and those individuals with pre-existing health conditions like diabetes and asthma are more likely to become severely ill as a result of becoming infected.

March 26, 2020 | Many people in this country have claimed that everything from eating certain foods like garlic or gargling salt water to drinking gallons of water at a time can serve as a cure for the coronavirus COVID-19. Some posts on social media claim that brewing tea from herbs such as sea moss can protect kids from getting the coronavirus. The truth is garlic is a healthy food that may have some antimicrobial properties but there is no proof at this time that eating it will protect you from COVID-19. The same goes for do-it-yourself herbal tea. And while it’s always smart to stay well hydrated, whether you’re sick or not, there’s no evidence that drinking water can protect you from getting the coronavirus. Neither will gargling with salt water or vinegar. And there’s no truth to the rumor that taking a hot bath can prevent you from getting COVID-19. Your body temperature stays relatively stable even when you take an extremely hot bath. This just leaves you at risk for a burn.

March 26, 2020 | With all the information on the Internet and on TV these days about COVID-19, you may have heard that UV lamps and hand dryers are capable of killing the coronavirus. The World Health Organization recommends against the use of UV lamps to sterilize hands or other areas of the body as UV radiation can cause skin irritation. And the heat from a hand dryer is not enough to kill this new virus. However, when a hand dryer is used in combination with washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, this method is considered very effective in protecting yourself from COVID-19. You can also dry your hands after washing them with paper towels, or, when soap and water is not available, clean your hands with an alcohol-based sanitizer. Washing your hands frequently, avoiding touching your face and maintaining a safe distance from others, whether they’re ill or not, remain the best strategies for protecting yourself from COVID-19.