It goes without saying that in today’s social media climate, the proliferation of lies, myths, and fake news is more prevalent than ever. As people grapple for truth, solutions, and facts during this wave of ambiguous parody sites, scantly researched articles, and blatant falsehoods, myths begin to emerge, some downright hilarious, while others edge on dangerous. The recent coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is no different. We’ve already listed our coronavirus facts, but the are plenty of coronavirus myths out there, too.
The List of Coronavirus Myths
We’ve decided to pick the coronavirus myths apart, one by one; see them all below. Our goal is to keep you all informed — and entertained — in the weeks ahead. Make sure you follow along with our coronavirus guide, along with our friends at SkillsetMag.com and RealWorldSurvivor.com.
Myth No.1
Merely donate blood and get a free screening for COVID-19.
Fact: Blood banks do not test for the novel coronavirus as part of their donation process. Of the 600 donation sites around the country, none of them are currently testing the blood for this particular virus (though they do test for a battery of other pathogens). If you suspect that you are infected, the last thing you should do is donate blood and pass along the infection to people in need of blood. In fact, the Red Cross is asking anyone who has travelled in coronavirus outbreak areas to wait at least 28 days before donating blood.
Myth No. 2
Mosquitoes will begin to spread the coronavirus when the weather warms up.
Fact: The World Health Organization claims: “To date there has been no information nor evidence to suggest that the new coronavirus could be transmitted by mosquitoes.”
Myth No. 3
A self-check to see if you are infected is to hold your breath for 10 to 15 seconds every morning. If you can do it without coughing, you’re not infected.
Fact: This “test” does not provide any indication whether or not you are infected with the coronavirus, since there are many other reasons a person might have restricted breathing, among them are asthma, anxiety or heart disease.
Myth No. 4
Drinking a sip of water every 15 minutes will keep the virus from adhering to your mouth.
Fact: Drinking water frequently is generally good advice on its own, as staying hydrated is important to humans on a day-to-day basis. However, washing the virus to your stomach for destruction via stomach acids (as the myth claims) will not work.
Myth No. 5
Hot climates eliminate transmission of the coronavirus.
Fact: Cases of the coronavirus currently exist in nearly all countries and all continents (except Antarctica). This includes areas, like Africa and South America, that experience hot and humid weather.
Myth No. 6
Take a hot bath to kill any viruses on your body.
Fact: Water alone has no affect on the virus molecules attached to your body, regardless of the temperature of your bath. In fact, a very hot bath could be harmful, as it could burn your skin.
Myth No. 7
If infected, spray alcohol and/or chlorine all over your body to kill the new coronavirus and cure yourself.
Fact: Although alcohol and chlorine are great for disinfecting surfaces (and a type of alcohol is found in hand-sanitizers) these will do nothing to kill viruses that have already entered your body. Once the virus is in your body, you are infected, and no amount of surface cleaner will kill the virus inside you.
Myth No. 8
I had the flu shot this season. I’m immune to flu-like viruses.
Fact: Vaccines against pneumonia, such as pneumococcal vaccine and Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib) vaccine, do not provide protection against the new coronavirus. This virus is so new and different that it needs its own vaccine. Even though you’ve had the flu shot, you are still at risk to contract this coronavirus.
