Clearing up some of the misinformation surrounding COVID-19

BY JONELL PANTLITZ

As the spread of the Coronavirus Pandemic continues, so does the rumors, myths and misinformation. This is understandable. It’s natural that people are hungry for information. This thirst for information is what allows the internet to spread misinformation and deceive the public. So, let’s get into some of the totally inaccurate myths busted by science about our current pandemic.

Masks can protect you from the Coronavirus
Essentially, the most common misconception is that regular surgical masks can protect you from contracting the coronavirus. This myth is believed by most of the public; even my mother was trying to convince me to wear a mask when I was going to the grocery store.

However, the fact remains that regular surgical masks, will not protect anyone. According to, Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, he told Live Science, a more specialized mask, known as an N95 respirator, can protect against the new coronavirus, also called SARS-CoV-2.

The University of Maryland also reported that surgical masks may help prevent infected people from making others sick with the coronaviruses. In laboratory experiments, the masks significantly reduced the amounts of various airborne viruses coming from infected patients. Even if someone were to sneeze on you a mask may protect some parts of your face, but the virus can also enter through your eyes and from touching your face.

Heat can kill the Coronavirus
This is a fact, but it is often misconstrued by the public. Heat can indeed kill the virus but only extreme heat. Shannon Sovndal, MD, the EMS medical director in Boulder, Colorado, explained, “Heat in your everyday normal life won’t kill coronavirus.”

Hospitals and medical facilities use that kind of heat in the hundreds of degrees fahrenheit to clean their medical instruments to disinfect and kill viruses, says Dr. Sovndal. But things, like taking a hot shower or bath, sipping hot tea, or just being in warm weather, won’t kill COVID-19.

This statement is also proven false because many hot climates (Caribbean islands/countries, Australia) have reported cases of the coronavirus.

Spraying alcohol or chlorine on your body will kill the new coronavirus
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body will not kill viruses that have already entered your body. Spraying such substances can be harmful to clothes or mucous membranes (i.e., eyes, mouth). Alcohol, chlorine and other disinfectants can be used to clean surfaces but beware some of these products are flammable.

Packages from countries were Coronavirus cases are confirmed is not safe
According to the (WHO), research has found that coronaviruses don’t survive long on objects such as letters and packages. From what was established from similar coronaviruses such as MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV, experts think this new coronavirus likely survives poorly on surfaces.

According to a study published on February 6^th in The Journal of Hospital Infection, reported that coronaviruses can stay on surfaces such as metal, glass or plastic for as long as nine days. The surfaces present in packaging are not ideal for the virus to survive. It needs a combination of specific environmental conditions such as temperature, lack of UV exposure and humidity, a combination that won’t be possible in shipping packages.

Holding your breath without coughing means you do not have coronavirus
According to (WHO) the most common symptoms of COVID-19 are dry cough, tiredness and fever. Some people may develop more severe forms of the disease, such as pneumonia.

The best way to confirm if you have the virus-producing COVID-19 disease is with a laboratory test. You cannot confirm it with this breathing exercise, which can even be dangerous.

Misinformation will not go away. Our freedom of speech dictates that. All we can do as intelligent content consumers is research everything and make it our duty to ingest balanced information.