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Sadly there has been a lot of misinformation on the internet about this virus. When it comes to the coronavirus (COVID-19), you shouldn’t believe anything you read online, unless you’re reading it on the CDC or the WHO website. Don’t even listen to me š! Below, we’ve busted the most popular coronavirus myths out there. Let us know if we missed one and we’ll add it to the list.
1. The virus hates heat and dies if exposed to high temperatures
There are a lot of posts on social media about this first coronavirus myth. A number of posts say if you expose COVID-19 to temperatures greater than 80Ā°F (27Ā°C) you can kill it. This is completely wrong. The average temperature of the human body is around 97.7 to 99.5 Ā°F or 36.5 to 37.5 Ā°C so if this was true, we would never get infected š¤ . COVID-19 can survive in hotter temperatures This is completely false and untrue.
Here are some myths I have seen associated with this:
- Drinking hot water or liquids can kill COVID-19
- This is completely false. COVID-19 is a respiratory virus and sits in your lungs. Hot liquids can help make you feel better when you’re sick so if you’re feeling unwell I would suggest enjoying some warm beverages, but this will not kill the coronavirus.
- Sitting in a sauna and breathing in hot air can kill COVID-19
- The air in our lungs is actually maintained at body temperature. This is because some of the air we breathe stays in our lungs. If the air was too hot, we would burn our lungs, and if it was too cold, we could freeze our lungs. Sitting in a sauna might feel nice, but it will not kill the virus.
- Sunbathing can heat up the skin and kill the virus
- Similar to the previous points, sunbathing can feel nice, but this virus lives in our lungs and will not be affected by the sun.
2. Holding your breath can tell if you’re infected
There is NO evidence that holding your breath can determine if you’re infected or not. Do NOT use this as a valid test to determine if you are sick or not. The CDC has listed what symptoms are commonly associated with this disease, and it would be wise to follow their guidelines (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html). I have attempted to simplify this and other COVID-19 information in another post. Please check it out here: (https://scienceevolved.com/is-the-coronavirus-going-to-kill-us-all/). Coronavirus myth busted!
4. Wait 10 minutes to touch your face or nose
This is a strange coronavirus myth. While I’m not sure where this 10 minutes came from, I can assure you this virus will survive on surfaces longer than 10 minutes. COVID-19 can survive for long periods of time on surfaces. PLEASE wash your hands properly with soap and warm water to help prevent the spread of this disease.
The CDC has a great website on how to properly wash your hands: https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/index.html.
Follow Five Steps to Wash Your Hands the Right Way
Washing your hands is easy, and itās one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs. Clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and throughout an entire communityāfrom your home and workplace to childcare facilities and hospitals. (Information from the CDC)
Follow these five steps every time.
- Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
- Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
- Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the āHappy Birthdayā song from beginning to end twice.
- Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
- Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
5. Gargle disinfectant solutions
NO! NO! NO! PLEASE DO NOT gargle anything without consulting a doctor. If you feel you have COVID-19 symptoms, contact your doctor immediately. Hundreds of people are dying because they are drinking chemicals they thought would help prevent coronavirus. Please consult your doctor if you feel sick.
Coronavirus myths busted! Please comment below if we missed one and we’ll add it to the list and give you some credit.
Other resources:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
