Busting Some Common Myths Surrounding Coronavirus Outbreak

Myths about the spread of an infection are more dangerous than the infection itself. And this is the case with the Coronavirus outbreak as well. The infection has now spread to more than 70 countries in the world and there are several myths that are gaining pace with constant sharing on social media. But how true are these so-called facts? Read on to know more.

Face Masks Work/Don't Work

Whether face masks work or don't work depends on when and where are we considering the person to be. According to The Guardian, if we are talking about someone who is in direct contact with an infected person, face masks do help cut the possibility of catching the infection. However, it is not an iron-clad guarantee that you won't catch the infection if you're wearing a mask. Viruses can also transmit through the eyes and tiny viral particles, known as aerosols, can penetrate masks. Moreover, if you have some symptoms of coronavirus, masks can help prevent the further spread of infection. Therefore, whether masks work or don't work depends wholly on the situation.

Is Vitamin C Effective In Curing Coronavirus?

According to WHO, several studies were conducted to study the effects of certain immunity-boosting drugs including, Vitamin C, but none of them were found to be effective, at present, in curing severe pneumonia caused by the virus. Therefore, though Vitamin C might be good for boosting the immune system, there's no evidence that it is of any use in treating Coronavirus.

Can Eating Garlic Help Prevent Coronavirus?

According to WHO, Garlic is a healthy food that may have some antimicrobial properties. However, no evidence from the current outbreak backs the theory that eating garlic has protected people from the new coronavirus.

Also Read: How Contagious Is The Wuhan Coronavirus? Here's How It Spreads

Does Sesame Oil Help Block The Entry Of Virus?

A big NO to this. Disinfectants can wipe out the new Coronavirus but only on surfaces and not on the body. These disinfectants include bleach/chlorine-based disinfectants, either solvents, 75% ethanol, peracetic acid, and chloroform. Moreover, Sesame Oil does not kill the new Coronavirus.

Are Only Older People At The Risk Of Getting Infected?

Definitely Not! People of all ages can be infected by the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Older people and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease) appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus. Good hygiene has to be practiced by people of all age groups to save themselves from the virus.

Can Heat Kill The Virus?

The assumption that heat can kill the virus is based on the fact that influenza and some other viruses dissipate under similar conditions. But this is still an assumption and there's no evidence to back this. So technically, there's no way to know this. And hence the assumption that hair dryers can kill the virus is also wrong. According to WHO, Hair Dryers cannot kill the virus.

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