Common Coronavirus Myths And Misconceptions | WeatherBug
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Common Coronavirus Myths And Misconceptions

March 9, 2020
By WeatherBug's Erik Gates
The new coronavirus (COVID-19) has been headlining the news for the last few months and with its rapid spread around the world, do not expect that to stop anytime soon. However, with such a high rate of public interest, misinformation is bound to spread as quickly as the virus itself! Here is a breakdown of some of the common misconceptions about the coronavirus. 

The coronavirus can be transmitted through manufactured goods from other countries.

While the virus is able to survive on many surfaces for a short period of time, such as a few hours or even a few days, the risk of transmission by way of foreign goods is nearly impossible. The virus is much more likely to be weakened by changes in temperature or other outside conditions, or simply time itself. If a surface is thought to be contaminated, clean it with a disinfectant and then wash your hands with soap and water!

Mixing together cleaning supplies will enhance the “killing potential”.

All spraying these substances on your body will do is damage clothes and irritate the skin, eyes, and mouth. They are unable to kill viruses that have entered the body, and therefore should not be used in this manner. Furthermore, bleach and rubbing alcohol can combine to create toxins such as chloroform.

You can make your own hand sanitizer.

You shouldn’t try to make your own hand sanitizer from your personal supply of alcohol. While hand sanitizer is about 70 to 75 percent alcohol, getting the correct ratio using household rubbing alcohol and other household chemicals and antiseptics is difficult.

The seasonal flu or Pneumonia vaccine can protect you from coronavirus.

This is false. Although both the seasonal flu and Pneumonia are similar biologically to this coronavirus – hence the reason they have similar symptoms – they differ just enough that these vaccines won’t have much impact on the virus. That said, it is recommended you receive these vaccines to bolster your chances at avoiding pneumonia or the flu. Either one of these diseases could weaken your immune system sufficiently enough to provide an open door for COVID-19 to infect and endanger you.

Antibiotics are an effective way to treat COVID-19.

Antibiotics are designed to treat bacterial infections and the coronavirus is a virus, not a bacteria. Therefore, antibiotics are unable to prevent or treat the coronavirus. On the other hand, if you are hospitalized with COVID-19 you may be given antibiotics because bacterial co-infection is a possibility.

Saline nasal rinses can help to prevent infection with the new coronavirus.

Zero evidence has been found that suggests saline nasal rinses help to prevent the spread of the new
coronavirus. These rinses are also not found to prevent respiratory infections in general and only limited evidence shows that they have any impact on the recovery from the common cold.

Hand dryers are capable of killing the new coronavirus.

The most effective way to kill the coronavirus and prevent its spread is to wash your hands or frequently clean them with an alcohol-based sanitizer. Make sure soap and warm water are used, then dry completely with paper towels or a warm air hand dryer. Hand dryers themselves have no effect on the virus at all.

Vaccines can cause permanent damage to your brain or body.

Scientists are working very hard to find a vaccine capable of fighting COVID-19, and it is anticipated that by some point in 2021, one will be available to the general public. By its very nature, a vaccine boosts your immune system enough to give your body an extra lift to fight off the virus. What vaccines will not do is impact other parts of your body.