Controlling the spread of COVID -19 has become an essential goal for every country across the world. However, some mischievous beliefs and misconceptions about COVID-19 are spreading faster than infections.
Beliefs & Facts
Let us see the top beliefs of people, and the facts regarding the coronavirus infection are.
Belief #1: Coronavirus is a bacteria, not a virus. Paracetamol or Aspirin could stop it.
Fact: The unevidenced Facebook message stated that coronavirus is a bacteria, and the severe impact is due to the"Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation" (Thrombosis).
This myth and hoax spread in social media based on the report of an Italian doctor. However, the Italian doctor has identified the link between coronavirus and inflammatory disorder through the investigation of a sudden increase in the Italian children's death.
Many Fact Check clearly disproved the myth. Hence, don't consider Paracetamol or Aspirin for the treatment of COVID-19, both provide pain relief only, not a cure for COVID-19.
Belief #2: Consuming Garlic, Ginger, Lemon, Vitamin C in large quantities prevents COVID infection
Fact: Garlic, ginger, lemon, etc. are excellent immune boosters in general. However, there are no scientific proofs that consuming large quantities of these foods would help against COVID-19. We can consume these foods in a regular diet to develop immune functions. No panic eating, please!!
Belief #3: Eating salt before and after meal/ gurgling saltwater
Fact: Consumption of salt or saltwater is not scientifically proven to be coronavirus preventing. There is no use of following these actions to fight against coronavirus.
Belief #4: Saline or chorine spray will combat coronavirus
Fact: Externally spraying saline or chlorine water is not going to kill the coronavirus, if already entered into the human body. Both might act as a disinfectant in different degrees, but it won’t help directly like a 60% alcohol-based disinfectant.
Belief #5: Drinking lots of water will push the coronavirus from throat to stomach to die in digestive acids
Fact: Certainly not. Drinking more water may help you with multiple reasons. But it is not going to offer any help against coronavirus. Once the virus entered into our body through eyes, nose, or mouth, it will penetrate to body cells. Drinking water can only wash the path virus travelled.
Belief #6: Blowing or sucking hot air using blow dryer or sauna will kill the virus
Fact: Definitely not. Virus once entered, would be penetrating our body cells and stay there. Blowing or sucking hot air can only burn our skin or throat and not the virus inside the cells.
Belief #7: Holding breath for 10 seconds can prevent infection and indicate that you are not infected
Fact: Coronavirus can enter our body through nose, eyes, mouth, etc. Holding breath would not help to prevent this. Neither would the capability to hold the breath for longer than 10 seconds without any discomfort indicates that we are in healthy condition and not infected. Many people with and without the infection might be able to hold the breath for longer times. Only a standard diagnostic test can confirm that you are fine.
Belief #8: Drinking bleach like solutions will fight against coronavirus infection
Fact: Truly not. Drinking bleach solution is very dangerous to our body. Please do not drink bleach like concoctions in any case and don’t give to your children also.
Belief #9: Using neem guards on humans and pets
Fact: Traditionally, neem leaves are used to stop itching and scarring in chickenpox owing to its anti-viral properties. The role of neem leaves might help against infections, but for coronavirus has not yet been investigated or confirmed. Notably, using neem leaves as a protective shield over the umbrella and on pets is very funny and illogical.
Belief #10: Placing, seven ground peppercorns on the tongue and drinking green bean soup to keep coronavirus at bay
Fact: People in Myanmar and China believe that placing peppercorns on the tongue and drinking green bean soup would help to prevent coronavirus infection. Green bean soup and peppercorns may have immune-boosting powers, but their role in combatting the COVID-19 epidemic is still unclear.
Belief #11: Hand wash better than sanitizer
Fact: The center for disease control recommends washing hands with soap and water frequently instead of hand sanitizers. If not possible, using sanitizers with more than 60% alcohol will help better to remove the dirt and germs.
Belief #12: Hot and humid areas/countries are safe
Fact: There is no evidence to date, which implies the safety of hot or humid areas against the outbreak of COVID-19. As of now, all regions are susceptible to this novel coronavirus irrespective of temperature and humidity conditions.
The study revealed that both Iceland (cold country) and Australia (hot country) have affected by the novel coronavirus. However, researchers are investigating the benefits of UV-rays to control the spread.
Belief #13: Cold countries are more vulnerable to coronavirus infection
Fact: It is not valid. The novel coronavirus needs a host cell to survive irrespective of the external temperature. The external temperature can only affect the lifespan of the virus. In general, our average body temperature is 34-36°C, which is a suitable medium for virus reproduction.
As we see, the above study dictates, both cold and hot countries are vulnerable to contagion.
Belief #14: Younger people are safe towards coronavirus than older people
Fact: It is not valid. Coronavirus can infect people of all ages. People with high immunity have higher chances of recovery from the infection. People with medical complications like asthma, heart diseases, diabetes are more vulnerable to corona infection than healthy people. However, some reports state that children have passive immune functions against coronavirus.
Belief #15: Thermal scanners can detect the COVID-19 infected patients
Fact: A thermal scanner is a tool to distinguish a person with elevated body temperature. But this elevation in body temperature may or may not be a result of coronavirus infection. Because our body is sensitive to several kinds of factors. So, we cannot blindly suggest that the person is infected by coronavirus using a thermal scanner. To confirm the infections, we need to follow the standard and approved diagnosis methods like RT-PCR, Serological, or CT-Scan.
Belief #16: Vaccine for COVID-19 prevention and medicine for treatment will be available in a few days
Fact: No vaccine or drugs solely developed to control the spread of coronavirus are yet available in the market. Of course, researchers and pharmaceutical companies are hardly working to derive the solutions for COVID-19. But the clinical trials & analysis and testing the efficiency of these vaccines and medicines would undoubtedly take time. As of now, physicians are providing symptoms-based treatment and trying to improve the immunity of the infected patients to recover faster.
Belief#17: Hydroxychloroquine is the medicine for COVID-19
Fact: Hydroxychloroquine is not yet declared as a drug for the coronavirus treatment. Several testing processes are going on to clarify what kind of combinations could help for the treatment. So, please don’t rush to the medical store and stock the same.
Belief #18: Bear bile treatment is effective
Fact: Bear bile injections or powders for coronavirus treatment is so prevalent in China. Scientifically, ursodeoxycholic acid from bile acids has anti-inflammatory properties and the ability to calm the immune response, according to Clifford Steer, Professor, University of Minnesota. Traditional medicines for bronchitis and upper respiratory infections have no evidence for the treatment of coronavirus.
Don’t rush bear bile injections or powder. It may seriously result in cytokine storm syndrome.
Belief #19: 10 minutes exposure or within six feet distance is vulnerable
Fact: Definitely not. Transmission of coronavirus might be through droplets released by the infected patients sneezed or coughed out or door-knobs, contaminated surfaces, hand-rails, etc.
A very shorter time and infected area could potentially harm us. Hence, we need to ensure our hygiene by washing our hands frequently and avoid touching the nose, mouth, or eyes to prevent the infection.
Belief #20: The novel coronavirus is mutating to dangerous strains
Fact: The present research indicates a slow mutation rate of the coronavirus. Hence, the world may relieve that effective prevention is possible through vaccine development.
Belief #21: Virus came from bat soup
Fact: The real origin of coronavirus is not yet clear and confirmed. So, blaming the bat soup for coronavirus is not advisable, and spreading such rumours is wrong as well.
Perspective
Still, many misconceptions and fake news are spreading in social media faster than the infection. At this pandemic emergency, our primary concern must be to stay calm and stress-free because the psychological effect could alter our consciousness and lead to wrong actions. Indeed, each step needs careful attention to control the further infection rate. For example, we know that wearing gloves and masks is highly advisable to prevent coronavirus infection. But if mistakenly contaminated, the gloves and masks itself will harm us.
We can take the following precautions for the effective prevention from coronavirus infection. Nevertheless, spreading rumours and unvalidated news in social media regarding the remedies and precautions are to be avoided more cautiously.
- Washing hands thoroughly with alcohol-based soaps and liquids frequently
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Social distancing
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Maintaining proper hygiene and immune-boosting diet
Please share your experience on this kind of misbelief or fake news in the comment section.
Disclaimer: The descriptions are not intended to criticize any individual and community.
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Author
Prabakaran Shankar holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science and is a postdoctoral researcher. As a writer, interested in an analysis of the subject from a different perspective.
Lakshmishri Prabakaran holds a Ph.D. in Nanoscience and Technology and is a scientific researcher interested in exploring and writing different styles of journals.
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