5 Updated Myths About COVID-19

Myths About COVID-19 have become clearer. Many of us have already begun to master coronavirus safety tactics, like washing our hands throughout the day and maintaining at least 6 feet of distance from others. But there are still misperceptions and flat-out myths abounding in this time of panic. Let’s look at some common myths About COVID-19 or rumors floating through the ether, and find out the truth behind them.

1. Spraying alcohol or chlorine on your skin will kill the virus

Spraying such heavy chemicals on your skin or near your face is dangerous and ineffective. Though you can use some of these substances to disinfect surfaces (like your kitchen counter), they will not kill the virus in your body. Do not attempt.

2. Only older adults can get the disease

All people, regardless of age, can carry the virus. While older people or those with preexisting health conditions, like diabetes or asthma, are more likely to become severely ill, there have been plenty of cases of young people being hospitalized for COVID-19. Furthermore, those who do not display any symptoms can still be carriers of the virus without their knowledge, and can infect other people, which is why it’s so important to maintain social distance.

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3. COVID-19 is just like the flu

Symptoms of the coronavirus are indeed flu-like, causing aches, fever, and cough. Like the seasonal flu, COVID-19 cases can be mild, severe, or even fatal, and both can lead to pneumonia.

But compared to the flu, the overall profile of COVID-19 is more serious. Estimates vary, but it appears to have a much steeper mortality rate that ranges between about 1% and 3%. Some experts are also saying that it is far more contagious than the flu, which is why social-distancing orders must be taken seriously.

4. Facemasks will protect you against the virus

While medical workers use professional-grade face masks that protect against infection, the disposable face-masks available to everyday folks will not stop the virus from spreading when you are close contact with an infected person. These masks do not fit neatly against the face, so droplets can still enter through the mouth and nose, not to mention the microscopic particles that can travel through the material. Still, the idea they do no good in a casual situation, like walking through a grocery store, is misleading. They also make you conscious of your face and keeping your hands away from your face, a prime way to transmit the virus.

The best use of disposable face masks are by those who already have tested positive for the virus, who can protect others by shielding their mouth and nose.

5. The virus will die off when temperatures rise in the springtime

While some viruses do spread more easily in colder months, that does not mean they stop entirely when the weather warms up. At present, scientists do not know how the changing weather will affect the behavior of the COVID-19, they don’t know if it will subside during the summer, as the flu does, only return in the fall.

Source: Medical News Today.