What is coronavirus?
The World Health Organization (WHO) describes coronavirus (CoV) as a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a new strain that was discovered in 2019 and has not been previously identified in humans.
With the recent outbreak of COVID-19 in a number of European and Asian countries, there are a lot of misleading fake news and myths circulating on social media, which is causing panic among the masses while others is leading the general public to act carelessly. This is a high time that we understand certain myths and adopt precautionary measures to save ourselves and others from getting infected.
Following are the list of myths that have been spreading in various WhatsApp groups, social media posts as well as through word of mouth.
Myth# 1:
“Coronavirus does not spread in Hot and Humid weather.”
Fact: the transmission of coronavirus has nothing to do with weather or climate. People living in warmer areas are equally prone to coronavirus as people living in cold areas. This has been evident from the fact that coronavirus is spreading in countries like Pakistan, India, and Iran, where the climate is relatively hot and humid.
Myth# 2:
“Coronavirus gets killed if you take a hot shower or wash your hands with warm water”
Fact: Taking a hot shower or bath cannot prevent you from being infected form Coronavirus. This is because your body temperature does not change, even if you use hot water while bathing. Our body temperature ranges between 36.5 °Cto 37 °C, no matter what the temperature of the bath or shower is. On the contrary, using extremely hot water may be harmful as it can burn your skin.
Myth # 3:
“Coronavirus is transmitted through mosquito bites“
Fact: There is no evidence of coronavirus transmission through mosquito bites so far.
Coronavirus spreads through an infected person in the form of droplets produced while coughing or sneezing, or via droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose.
Myth # 4:
“Wearing mask prevents you from coronavirus”
Fact: No. Wearing a mask does not guarantee prevention from coronavirus. Usage of mask stops the spread of droplets from mouth and nose. It is suggested that those suffering from cough should wear masks so that the spread of germs from one person to another can be avoided.
According to World Health Organization (WHO), “the most effective way to protect yourself against the new coronavirus is by frequently cleaning your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or washing them with soap and water.”
Such a thoughtful article 👍