Myths, rumors, conspiracy theories – what kind of advice can I actually accept in the case of the new coronavirus?

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen[ 1 ], we have received daily inquiries about rumors , myths , conspiracy theories and fake news on the topic. Many people fear infection with the “coronavirus”, which is primarily transmitted through droplet infection – i.e. coughing, sneezing or saliva – and can therefore spread quite quickly.

Of course, deliberate misinformation makes the situation considerably worse and leads to fear, panic and rash actions. In the worst case, well-intentioned or incorrect advice has exactly the opposite effect, i.e. an increased risk of further spread of COVID-19. So being well informed is half the battle!

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The World Health Organization has prepared a series of sharepics to dispel the most common myths:

Hand dryers kill SARS-CoV-2.

No. Hand dryers are not effective in killing SARS-CoV-2. To protect yourself from the new coronavirus, you should clean your hands often with alcohol-based disinfectant or wash them with soap and water.

UV disinfection lamps kill SARS-CoV-2.

No. UV lamps should generally not be used to sterilize hands or other skin areas, as UV radiation can cause skin irritation.

Spraying your body with alcohol or chlorine kills SARS-CoV-2.

No. Even if you spray your entire body with alcohol or chlorine, you will not kill viruses that have already entered the body. In addition, spraying such substances can be harmful to your mucous membranes (e.g. mouth, eyes, etc.) and clothing.

Chlorine and alcohol can be useful for disinfecting surfaces, but should only be used according to the manufacturer's instructions.

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How effective is thermal scanners at detecting infected people?

Thermal scanners effectively detect people who have developed a fever or have an elevated body temperature due to an infection with the new coronavirus.

However, they do not recognize people who are infected but not (yet) feverishly ill. The reason: it can take 2 to 10 days for infected people to develop a fever.

Is it safe to receive a letter or package from China?

Yes. People who receive a package from China are not at risk of becoming infected with the new coronavirus. Previous analyzes found that coronaviruses do not survive long on items such as letters or packages.

Do pets spread the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen?

No. There is currently no evidence that pets such as dogs or cats can be infected with the new coronavirus. ( see also our report )

However, it is always a good idea to wash your hands with soap and water after contact with a pet. This protects you from various bacteria, such as E.coli and salmonella, which can actually be transmitted between animals and humans.

Pneumonia vaccinations also protect against COVID-19.

No. Vaccines against pneumonia, such as those for pneumococci or Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib), do not provide protection against the new coronavirus.

The virus is so new and different that it needs its own vaccine. Researchers are working with the WHO to develop a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2.

Nevertheless: The WHO recommends vaccination against respiratory diseases, even if they are not effective against SARS-CoV-2.

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Regular saline nasal rinses help prevent infection.

No. There is no evidence that regular saline nasal rinses protect against infection with the new coronavirus.

There is little evidence that regular nasal irrigation can help people recover more quickly from a cold.

Consuming garlic prevents infection.

Nope. Garlic is generally a healthy food with antibacterial properties. However, there is no evidence that eating garlic protects people from the new coronavirus.

Sesame oil prevents SARS-CoV-2 from penetrating the body.

No. Sesame oil does not prevent penetration or kill the pathogen. There are some chemical disinfectants that can kill SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces. These include bleach/chlorine-based disinfectants, solvents such as 75% ethanol, peracetic acid and chloroform.

But be careful: When used on the skin, these chemicals can be dangerous. Please only use the substances for surfaces according to the manufacturer's instructions.

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Only older people are affected by the new coronavirus, but younger people are not as susceptible.

People of all ages can be infected with the new coronavirus. Older people and people with existing illnesses such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, etc. seem to be more susceptible.

However, the WHO advises people of all ages to protect themselves from the virus with appropriate hygiene.

Antibiotics are effective in preventing and treating COVID-19.

No. Antibiotics do not work against viruses, only bacteria. SARS-CoV-2 is a virus, so you should not take antibiotics as a means of prevention or treatment.

However, if you are hospitalized with COVID-19, you may be given antibiotics because bacterial co-infection is possible.

Is there already a drug to prevent or treat COVID-19?

No. As of now, there is no specific drug recommended for COVID-19.

However, people infected with the virus should receive appropriate care to alleviate the symptoms and cure the disease. Those who are seriously ill should receive optimized supportive care.

However, some specific treatments are currently being investigated and tested in clinical trials.

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Here are the sharepics that you are welcome to share with your friends:

Source: WHO
Article image: Shutterstock / By SamaraHeisz5


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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )