Have you heard, “A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.”? Well, its true as true can be and this I believe is what is happening now as well. When the world is facing a resilient adversary, the myths floating around about the coronavirus are working like termites weakening the fight from within. Hence, we thought to bust some of the myths floating around and let the truth set us free.
Myth 1: This is the work of the Chinese government. Well, my dear Sherlock Holmes please disregard any such conspiracy theories (world domination, bio-weapons testing). This is not man-made and like its predecessors (SARS, MERS), it appears to have arrived from bats. Put your detectives cape away.
Myth 2: Extreme temperature can cancel it out. Contrary to what we would like to believe but nothing, no scientific evidence has been able to prove the theory that the virus cannot spread or dies in cold/snowy areas, or that in hot temperatures it won’t spread. In fact in some countries just when temperatures went soaring, so did the numbers of infected people. So basis on this fact, hot showers or hand dryers won’t blow the virus away either. Home remedies like gargling with saline water can help you keep your throat well but that doesn’t ensure your safety from COVID-19.
Myth 3: Death is inevitable if you get infected. Not true at all, people are recovering as well. The mortality rate is higher in people with weakened immune systems or with pre-existing illnesses, but the more worrisome fact is not the death but the spread.
Myth 4: There is so and so cure for it. This is a new virus with similarities, but so far there is no vaccine or specific treatment designed to cure or treat it. Those are a work in progress. Additionally, pneumonia vaccines or flu shots can be taken in the season to avoid them not COVID-19. So don’t fall for those fables. People with shots or without one are both at risk of contracting COVID-19. Also, antibiotics are not for corona but to combat bacterial infections.
Myth 5: Masks are your savior. This fallacy is dangerous. Masks are not needed by people who are fine and who do not have the infection. Masks are to be used by the infected people (coughing, sneezing included) so they don’t spread the infection further, they are to be used by people like healthcare professionals who are dealing with infected people so they do not get infected. Also, I would like to add do not hoard up stuff, sanitizers and other items, we understand your need to stay safe, but you will only be safe when others are safe too.
Myth 6: I am young and healthy and won’t get the Coronavirus. COVID-19 is not age-specific, and yes people with weakened immune systems are more at risk and that means old people and young children, but, even the healthy adults can fall prey to this highly contagious disease. Unless everyone takes appropriate precautions no one gets a jail free card.
Have you ever wondered why the word pandemic has such negative connotations? I have a theory, the problem is people don’t focus on the Dem (demographics – stats, facts) and then all we are left with is panic. Now you need to know where you need to be focusing on.