COVID-19 series #2- Debunking myths on the COVID-19

With the Coronavirus outbreak in the majority of the countries worldwide, being a science communicator to raise awareness against it and bursting the myths being forwarded on social media is important.

Will masks save you from the wrath of Covid - 19 ?

Masks are not only effective if you are infected, but also to save others from passing on your infection to them or vice versa. When you wear a mask, know how to use it and dispose of it properly.

Will vaccines against pneumonia or influenza help treat coronavirus infections ?

No. Vaccines available against pneumonia are pneumococcal vaccine and Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) vaccines. These do not provide protection against the Covid-19.

Can Garlic treat Covid-19 infection ?

No ! Although garlic is a healthy food with antimicrobial properties, it is difficult to rule out if it can be used as a treatment for Covid-19. Other than the social media myths, there is no evidence yet from the current outbreak that eating garlic has protected people from Covid-19.

Can antibiotics kill Covid-19 ?

No ! As discussed in my earlier article on AMR, antibiotics are to kill bacterial and not viral infections and COVID-19 is a viral infection. Yes, doctors can prescribe you antibiotics to treat the cough you must be having due to coronavirus, but the antibiotics are killing the pathogenic microbes in your throat and not the virus.

Does coronavirus affect older people more ?

Older people just like younger children are always susceptible to several infections including bacterial and viral infections. But people of all ages are susceptible and can be infected by Covid-19. Older people, and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease) appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus.

Symptoms to look out for :

Common signs of Covid-19 infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, this infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

What can you possibly do ? :

Standard recommendations for prevention of infections being spread include frequent hand washing using alcohol based soap/sanitizer and water, covering mouth and nose when coughing washing, sneezing and not touching anything with those hands, thoroughly cooking meat, poultry and eggs, avoiding close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing. 6 feet distance helps as the virus cannot travel beyond 6 feet and cannot survive on inanimate objects.

WHO advises people of all ages to take preventive steps to protect themselves from the virus, mostly by following good hand hygiene and good respiratory hygiene.

Staying hydrated works in the best way as coronavirus cannot survive in moist regions.

If you suspect to be having symptoms associated with coronavirus, call and consult your doctor instead of going and consulting him. This might save others as well !

Those infected with the virus should receive appropriate care to relieve and treat symptoms.

Hope you all take good care of yourselves in these pandemic times.

- Rachna Jadhav

@theresilientresearcher