On December 31, 2019, reports were circulating about an unidentified virus that is causing an epidemic in a small city of Wuhan in Eastern China.
And not long after, the virus now known as COVID-19 is already labeled as a global pandemic by WHO and has affected over 451,355 people all over the world.
And if that is not enough, misleading reports in social media are causing more fear and distress that caused some of us to needlessly panic due to unfounded information.
So in order to avoid the confusion, we are going to debunk some myths about the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) so you will know how to protect yourself from contracting this virus and causing harm to your loved ones and the people around.
Myth 1: The COVID-19 Virus Thrives In Hot Climates And Humid Conditions
Fact: As far as the evidence suggests (so far), the 2019 coronavirus disease does not discriminate hot or cold climate areas.
In short, it can be transmitted anywhere you are as shown in the data where many people are affected in the United States, in which the climate is usually cold, and the Philippines, a known tropical country.
Myth 2: The Virus Be Transmitted Through Mosquito Bite
Fact: This is one of the prevailing fears of the masses as some lethal viral diseases like Zika and dengue fever are transmitted through a mosquito bite. Even so, it doesn’t follow that the coronavirus can also spread out through this method as there is no evidence to prove this yet, according to WHO.
Myth 3: Wearing N95 Assures You’ll Be Safe From Contamination
Fact: Yes the N95 mask maybe your first level of protection from contracting the coronavirus, but it does not mean that you won’t be able to contaminate others once you are exposed to COVID-19.
That’s why it’s recommended to undergo additional safety measures by washing your hands thoroughly and taking a bath after going outside to prevent accidental exposure and possible contamination to other people.
Myth 4: Using Alcohol, Sanitizers, And Disinfectants Will Kill The COVID-19 Virus
Fact: Frequent washing of hands with alcohol and disinfecting your body can kill COVID-19 and are considered as precautionary measures to prevent further spread. However, these products cannot kill the virus if it’s already inside your body.
Myth 5: COVID-19 Is Man-Made
Fact: One of the most common speculations is that COVID-19 is synthetically-made by terrorists to topple world governments.
However, this is not true as previous strains of coronaviruses have originated from animals and made them ill.
But in some cases, animal to human transmission can happen.
Myth 6: Antibiotics Can Serve As Prevention And Treatment For COVID-19
Fact: Taking antibiotics is NOT EFFECTIVE against COVID-19 because these medications are not designed to treat such illnesses because it’s viral and antibiotics are intended to treat bacterial diseases only.
Myth 7: House Pets Are Carriers Of COVID-19
Fact: So far, no evidence is found that can back up the claim of house pets being infected with the 2019 coronavirus disease. However, it’s still recommended washing your hands after having contact with your home companions just to be sure, just in case.
For more information about this and other scientific facts, you can visit We Want Science today.
