11 coronavirus myths busted

In the digital age we have infinite information at our fingertips, which can be both good and bad. With thousands of new websites popping up every single day, it can be hard to cut through the clutter and determine what is fact and what is fiction. This is especially true when trying to find factual information about COVID-19, also known as coronavirus. The sole purpose of some websites is to wage a war of misinformation, which can have deadly consequences when dealing with a vicious virus like COVID-19. In the seedy underbelly of the Internet, coronavirus conspiracy theories bubble to the surface and sometimes make their way to mainstream media making it hard for some people to determine what is medicine and what is myth. This article will help you separate the fact from fiction when it comes to common coronavirus conspiracy theories. 

1- “I can only catch the coronavirus once” 

More than three quarters of a million people across the world have fully recovered from COVID-19 so far, but, there is no evidence to support the myth they are fully immune after beating the virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) is pushing back against the myth that people can only contract coronavirus once. The WHO says the idea that one-time COVID-19 infection can lead to immunity remains unproven and unreliable.

2- “Only the elderly are at risk of getting coronavirus”

BBC News reports a newborn in Wuhan, China is the youngest COVID-19 patient in the world. The baby was diagnosed with coronavirus just 30 hours after being born, The child’s mother tested positive for COVID-19 but it’s unclear if coronavirus was transmitted via womb or after the child was born. A 107-year-old Dutch woman is believed to be the oldest coronavirus survivor in the world. She was one of 40 residents at a nursing home that tested positive for COVID-19 in March 2020. The cause of that coronavirus outbreak is still unknown. These two cases  prove that people at both ends of the age spectrum are not immune to coronavirus. Health officials say COVID-19 can strike people of any age, but the virus does appear to be stronger in patients with underlying health issues like diabetes or asthma. 

3- “5G mobile networks help spread coronavirus”

This coronavirus conspiracy theory focused on Wuhan, China being one of the first global cities to test 5G mobile technology as COVID-19 began to spread like wildfire. This myth is rooted in a 2011 study that bacteria can communicate through electromagnetic signals. However, COVID-19 is a virus, not bacteria. The World Health Organization says any virus, not just coronavirus, simply can not travel via radio waves and mobile networks. COVID-19 is spreading in many countries that do not have 5G mobile networks, like iran. COVID-19 is spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks. People can also become infected by touching a contaminated surface and then their eyes, mouth, or nose. 

4- “I can kill coronavirus by rubbing disinfectants on my skin” 

This myth picked up speed after President Donald Trump appeared to suggest, without evidence, that ingesting or injecting disinfectants into the body can kill coronavirus within minutes. Within a day, reports from around the country quickly emerged of people ingesting disinfectants, like cleaning substances, in hopes of curing coronavirus. NBC News reports poison control officials in New York City said the calls for bleach and Lysol-related issues doubled after President Trump’s comments. The World Health Organization says applying these disinfectants to the skin or ingesting them can cause severe bodily harm and not kill viruses within the body. Although these chemicals can be used to disinfect surfaces, they should not be used internally or externally on the body. 

5- “Electric hand dryers kill or spread coronavirus”

This is a double-headed coronavirus conspiracy theory as some people say electric hand dryers can kill coronavirus while others say these dryers can cause it to spread like wildfire. The WHO and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) both say there is absolutely no evidence to support either myth. The only thing these health experts stress is the importance of proper handwashing techniques of using plenty of hot water, soap, and washing your hands for at least 20 seconds multiple times a day. 

6- “A vaccine to cure COVID-19 is now available” 

While several promising drugs, like Remdesivir, are currently being tested to treat coronavirus patients, there is no vaccine. Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine say a vaccine that is safe and effective in humans is still several months away. Some timelines have a vaccine for widespread usage still being 12 to 18 months away. 

7- “Drinking alcohol can help kill coronavirus”

In response to a series of myths surrounding alcohol and COVID-19, the WHO released a statement explaining although alcohol can disinfect the skin, it does not work the same inside the body. The WHO explains that “consuming any alcohol poses health risks, but consuming high-strength ethyl alcohol (ethanol), particularly if it has been adulterated with methanol, can result in severe health consequences, including death.” The WHO goes on to say “Alcohol use, especially heavy use, weakens the immune system and thus reduces the ability to cope with infectious diseases.” Because alcohol is associated with a number of diseases, it may make people more vulnerable to COVID-19.

8- “My pet can give me coronavirus”

From tigers at Bronx Zoo to house cats in New York, there have been isolated cases of animals becoming infected with COVID-19. Although the means of transmission is unknown, owner of the house cats reportedly tested positive for coronavirus and the cats themselves had previously been treated for respiratory issues. Dr. Douglas Mader of Marathon Veterinary Hospital in Florida tells WPLG-TV "there’s absolutely no indication whatsoever that they can get sick with it, and then send the virus back to a human." While he admits there is still much experts don’t know as of now, he says, there’s no evidence of any infected pets, directly transmitting the virus.

9- “Laying in ultraviolet light will kill coronavirus”

The World Health Organization says exposing yourself to ultraviolet light, the sun or to temperatures higher than 25 degrees Celsius (or 77 degrees Fahrenheit) does not prevent the coronavirus. The WHO said you can catch COVID-19 no matter how hot or humid the weather is, adding that countries with hot weather have reported cases of COVID-19. The WHO warned about not using ultraviolet light to disinfect your body, saying UV radiation can cause skin irritation.

10- “Heat and humidity kill coronavirus”

While a day of tanning may not prove effective in fighting coronavirus, there is promising research when it comes to the impacts of heat and humidity. Government scientists say sunlight, heat and humidity may have a powerful impact on killing the coronavirus within one or even two minutes. Bill Bryan, the undersecretary for the Science & Technology wing of the Department of Homeland Security says hotter temperatures, humidity and sunlight kills the virus in saliva droplets on surfaces and in the air. The virus dies the quickest in the presence of direct sunlight under the conditions studied, Bryan said.

11- “Home remedies will cure and prevent coronavirus”

No home remedies can protect against COVID-19. This goes for vitamin C, essential oils, silver colloid, sesame oil, garlic, fish tank cleaner, burning sage, and sipping water every 15 minutes. The best approach is to adopt a good hand-washing regimen and to avoid places where there may be sick people.

While coronavirus will be part of our everyday lives for a while, we can do our parts to stop the community spread of the deadly virus. We can still practice proper social distancing, wearing cloth masks while outdoors, washing our hands for at least 20 seconds frequently throughout the day,  limiting contact with people outside our home, like food delivery drivers. It’s important to stay informed on the latest developments. AccuWeather has everything you need to know about COVID-19, including an interactive map to see where new cases are popping up, a tracker showing how many people are recovering, and in-depth podcast talking about how weather can impact coronavirus. You’ll also find the latest information on Accuweather TV network, Twitter and Facebook.

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