The Truth About The Coronavirus And The Myths Circulating About It

2023 Author: Lynn Laird | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 21:10

In addition to infecting more than 200,000 people worldwide and around 8,000 in France, covid-19 has caused a strong epidemic of disinformation among the population. Faced with the fear and stress caused by the pandemic, some are starting to believe and share false information. To flush out the latter, we unveil the truth about the coronavirus by deconstructing 10 myths received about the virus.

The truth about the coronavirus in 13 myths to beware of

Was covid-19 created in the laboratory? Is it a flu like any other? Are respiratory protection masks a reliable protection measure? Does the climate influence the development of the virus? Does vodka make a great hand sanitizer? Are the elderly the only ones affected by the virus? Coronavirus patients not recovering? Can animals spread the disease? Can covid-19 be transmitted to humans through an insect bite? Are there foods and remedies that protect against coronavirus? Each crisis has its share of misconceptions. Today, Deavita.fr separates the true from the false by answering your questions!

Covid-19 is a biological weapon created in the laboratory

As you are probably aware, coronaviruses are all of animal origin. And even if the exact “reservoir” species remains to be confirmed, the virus shares more than 95% of its genome with a virus found in bats. As a result, we can see that the spread comes from the animal world. Some of the experts even suspect that the pangolin (a wild animal sold in China for its meat) was the intermediary between humans and bats.

The coronavirus is a flu like any other

Another truth about the coronavirus is that covid-19 has a relatively higher degree of contagiousness than that of the flu. Although the symptoms are similar, the incubation period of the coronavirus is intended to be longer, which increases the risks of contamination. And according to the latest data, the death rate from covid-19 is also higher than that of the flu or pneumonia. Therefore, the vaccine against the latter is completely useless against the coronavirus. There is currently no treatment for covid-19.

Medical masks are the most effective protection

If you have symptoms of coronavirus or are caring for someone who may be infected, wearing a mask is essential. However, some doctors claim that the mask tends to lower alertness and provide a "false sense of security" to the wearer. It must be adapted to the size and shape of the face and must be well positioned: the padded side of the nose bar must be placed on the hump of the nose to protect it well. Whether conventional or artisanal, its lifespan is only 3 hours. At the end of this time, the risks of contamination increase considerably.

There are cures for the coronavirus

Faced with the lack of treatment for the coronavirus and the speed of its progression, it is psychosis that sets in, while giving way to many rumors about so-called miracle home remedies that would fight the disease. infection. And while some of them may eventually relieve symptoms such as coughing, the majority are absolutely ineffective. So if you think that saline solution (or cocaine) or excessive consumption of garlic will protect you from covid-19, think again quickly! The best way to protect yourself is to wash your hands frequently.

Children and young people catch the coronavirus less

Another misconception about the coronavirus is that it only affects the elderly. Although the latter are more "fragile", everyone wants to be concerned by SARS-COV-2, especially people suffering from a pre-existing disease, such as diabetes, asthma, transplant, cancer. Fortunately, more than 50% of infected people around the world have already recovered and are considered cured.

I don't have coronavirus because I don't have symptoms

Yes, it is quite possible to be asymptomatic and be a carrier of the virus. In this case, precautionary measures and social isolation become more than essential, in order to limit the risks of contamination as much as possible. Unfortunately, many are already affected, who do not show symptoms, especially during the early stages of the disease. However, according to the WHO, the risk of being infected by a person carrying the Covid-19 virus, who has no symptoms, remains very low.

Pets transmit covid-19

No, dogs and cats do not transmit the coronavirus. Veterinarians are reassuring! Covid-19 is a virus that is currently transmitted from human to human. Transmission from a pet to its owner is therefore unlikely. Simply put, the coronavirus is not a valid reason to get rid of your furry kitten or best friend in shelters. Instead of sending him to shelters, why not take advantage of the lockdown period to spend time with him and your family? However, don't let him lick your face.

Insects transmit the disease

No, insects, and especially mosquitoes, do not transmit the coronavirus and the reason is pretty obvious. Although these little animals transmit many diseases and infections, it happens through the blood. In this case, since covid-19 is a virus transmissible by the respiratory route, mosquito bites do not present any risk of contamination.

A healed person remains immune

After healing, each patient develops antibodies and becomes immune to the virus. As for the coronavirus, this is not necessarily the case. It could be that this phenomenon of “protection” of the organism is altered. As a result, several people diagnosed positive more than once have been reported. And although for the moment they have been detected only in Asia, the probability that these victims were still carriers of the virus is not excluded.

The climate does not influence the development of the virus

According to the WHO, covid-19 can be transmitted in all regions of the planet without exception and regardless of the climate. Despite some misconceptions, the truth about the coronavirus is that it can thrive even in warmer and humid areas. Likewise, snow and freezing temperatures cannot kill the virus either. Why? Well, because, whatever the weather, the normal human body temperature is between 36.5 ° C and 37 ° C. That said, taking a hot bath will not protect you from covid-19 in any way.

Alcohol and UV lamps kill coronavirus

If the idea of making your own disinfectant gel from a bottle of vodka tempts you, know that it will not work in any case and you will not be able to fight covid-19. So don't spoil your favorite vodka drink and recommend frequent hand washing instead. The same goes for hand dryers and ultraviolet disinfection lamps, whose rays can cause serious skin irritation.

Receiving a package from China is dangerous

Another question that caused an avalanche of question marks and comments on the Web: "Is it safe to receive a package or a letter from China?" ". Generally, SARS-COV-2 can indeed survive outside the human body, but its lifespan on different surfaces (wood, stainless steel, plastic, steel, copper) is not unlimited. In other words, by the time your package or letter arrives at your box from the end of the world, the danger will have disappeared.

Using gel cleanser is just as effective as washing your hands

The good old-fashioned hot water and soap method does a good job of killing germs and viruses. According to public health experts, the alcohol-based disinfectant liquid at 70 ° C is only a temporary cleaning solution to be preferred only when you do not have access to water or soap.