Myths vs Facts about Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) (COVID-19)

1. Are hand dryers effective in killing the new coronavirus?

• No. Hand dryers are not effective in killing the virus. To protect yourself against the new coronavirus, you should frequently clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Once your hands are cleaned, you should dry them thoroughly by using paper towels or a warm air dryer.

2. Can an ultraviolet disinfection lamp kill the new coronavirus?

• No. UV lamps should not be used to sterilize hands or other areas of skin as UV radiation can cause skin irritation.

3. Can thermal scanners detect people who are infected with the new coronavirus but show no symptoms yet? 

• No. Thermal scanners are effective in detecting people who have developed a fever (i.e. have a higher than normal body temperature) because of infection with the new coronavirus. However, they CANNOT detect people who are infected but are not yet sick with fever. This is because it takes between 2 and 10 days before people who are infected become sick and develop a fever.

4. Can spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body kill the new coronavirus?

• No. Spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body will not kill viruses that have already entered your body. Spraying such substances can be harmful to clothes or mucous membranes (i.e. eyes, mouth). Be aware that both alcohol and chlorine can be useful to disinfect surfaces, but they need to be used under appropriate recommendations. 

5. Do vaccines against pneumonia protect you against the new coronavirus? 

• No. Vaccines against pneumonia do not provide protection against the new coronavirus. The virus is so new and different that it needs its own vaccine. 

6. Can regularly rinsing your nose with saline help prevent infection with the new coronavirus? 

• No. There is no evidence that regularly rinsing the nose with saline has protected people from infection with the new coronavirus.

7. Can eating garlic help prevent infection with the new coronavirus?

• No. Garlic is a healthy food that may have some antimicrobial properties. However, there is no evidence from the current outbreak that eating garlic has protected people from the new coronavirus. 

8. Does the new coronavirus affect only older people? 

• No. People of all ages can be infected by the new coronavirus. 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. WHO advises people of all ages to take steps to protect themselves from the virus, for example by following good hand hygiene and good respiratory hygiene. 

9. Are antibiotics effective in preventing and treating the new coronavirus? 

• No. Antibiotics do not work against viruses, only bacteria.

10. Are there any specific medicines to prevent or treat the new coronavirus? 

• No. To date, there is no specific medicine recommended to prevent or treat the new coronavirus.

Source: World Health Organization (WHO), 2020