A virus that mask'd the world

How long has it been since you last stepped out of your house without worrying about who’s walking next to you, whether they or you have taken all the necessary precautions or even who all you’ve come in contact with? 6 months? Longer than that? Doesn’t it feel like a lifetime has passed since then? Welcome to the new normal.

This is what Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Related Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), commonly known to everyone as coronavirus or COVID-19, as termed by the WHO, did to us. It confined us to our homes, and changed life as we know it. However, even after all these continuous months of lockdown, the coronavirus disease shows no sign of abatement.

This virus is responsible for millions of infections and hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide, and has brought about worry and fear in the minds of people.

There has been a flood of information since the outbreak of the pandemic, making it difficult to separate fact from fiction. Hence, I’m here to dissect some of the most common myths surrounding coronavirus and its causes.

Myth #1: Kids can’t catch coronavirus; only old people are affected by it.

Being unbiased in its infective capabilities, coronavirus infects people of all ages; it is not just restricted to older people. People of all age groups can get affected by coronavirus, it is not just restricted to older people. However, people with pre-existing health conditions such as lung or heart diseases, diabetes, or conditions that affect their immune or respiratory system, are at a greater risk of infection as well as mortality.

Children are definitely not immune to coronavirus, although their mortality rates are on the lower side and cases of serious illness in children are extremely rare. Research shows that people over the age of 60 and children are particularly vulnerable to coronavirus but everyone is susceptible to it.

Myth #2: Drinking bleach, alcohol or household disinfectants, or eating garlic can protect you from getting infected.

Being strong oxidising agents, bleach and household disinfectants are substances used to kill bacteria or viruses on surfaces but they should not be consumed or sprayed on your body. They can cause severe tissue burns and blood vessel damage, along with damage to the skin, eyes and mouth, if used without caution.

Even though alcohol-based hand sanitisers disinfect your skin, alcohol when consumed does not have the same effect on your body. Heavy drinking can actually weaken your immune system and reduce your body’s capability to cope with infectious diseases, making you more susceptible and vulnerable to diseases such as COVID-19.

There is no evidence that garlic, even with its proven antimicrobial properties, could protect you against COVID-19.

Myth #3: If you have coronavirus, “you’ll know”.

COVID-19 causes a wide range of symptoms that differs from person to person. Some of the common ones include fever, cough, sore throat, headaches, muscle pain, body ache, difficulty in breathing, along with many other. However, most of these symptoms also appear in other illnesses such as a common cold or a viral fever, making it difficult to identify.

Thermal scanners have been installed at shopping malls, offices and even some societies as a safety precaution but they can only detect whether someone has a fever, which doesn’t necessarily conclude that the individual has coronavirus. Additionally, symptoms of coronavirus appear anywhere from 2-14 days, sometimes even longer, after infection, which defeats the purpose of these scanners since the person can have a normal temperature for a few days before he/she starts showing symptoms.

There are also some people who don’t develop symptoms at all, these people are known as asymptomatic since they don’t show any symptoms of having contracted the disease.

Myth #4: Animals can spread the virus.

Animals can contract coronavirus in exceptionally rare cases, due to being in contact with their infected owner, but there is no evidence proving that they can spread it to people. There have been no confirmed reports of any animal-human transmission, but this doesn’t mean precautions shouldn’t be taken. If a pet-owner showcases symptoms of coronavirus, a wise decision would be to ask a family member or a friend to take care of your pet for a while.

Myth #5: COVID-19 is just like influenza.

Even though COVID-19 has symptoms that are extremely similar to the ones of Influenza, COVID-19 is more serious in nature. Factors such as incubation period, transmission process and reproductive numbers i.e. the no. of secondary infections generated are key differentiators between the two.

Though the death rate is ambiguous, all research suggests that it is many times higher than the death rate of influenza, proving coronavirus to be more deadly than the flu. However, this does not mean that contracting the virus equals to death. There are equally many chances of recovery.

Myth #6: Supplements and antibiotics can prevent/treat coronavirus.

Supplements are known for building up the immune system and so does Vitamin C in providing some protection against diseases. It was also believed to have some healing benefits in the SARS outbreak. However, it has no proven benefits against the coronavirus pandemic spread across the world.

Coming to antibiotics, they are not effective against coronavirus. They only kill bacteria, not viruses.

Currently, no supplements or antibiotics have been found that can prevent/treat coronavirus. The only proven treatments are social distancing and taking the necessary precautions.

Myth #7: Rise in temperatures mean a decline of the virus.

Some viruses such as the previous coronaviruses (SARS and MERS) as well as the flu viruses, seemed to survive and spread better in cold environments but that doesn’t mean they stop entirely when the weather becomes more humid. As it is, there has been no evidence that proves that the same will be true for COVID-19. Instead, current research points to the inescapable fact that coronavirus can be transmitted in all areas and regions, irrespective of the topographical climate.

There has been no advancement in any specific treatment or vaccine which can cure coronavirus and therefore, it is in everyone’s best interest to practice social distancing and wear masks when going out, and follow the norms of keeping themselves clean and sanitary after coming back.

There is widespread panic among the people which has been intensified due to the fake news and messages being circulated, and I hope I helped in lessening some of the stress being caused by busting some of these myths.

If you notice the onset of any symptoms in yourself, your family members or your friends, please get yourself or them tested to ensure safety for everyone concerned.

Stay home, stay safe!

Had fun decoding these stress myths? Click on the link below to carry on your journey with Dr. Myth Smith.

bit.ly/drmythsmith

Also, subscribe to Dr. Myth Smith to bust new myths everyday.