Will Florida’s heat help coronavirus? What about garlic? Here are some myths vs. facts
Three months after the first known U.S. deaths from COVID-19, and as we sit in lockdown for months, it’s not surprising we are feeling antsy and start grasping at ways to kill the virus.
Antsy enough that some swallowed the inane suggestion that swallowing bleach might kill COVID-19 from the inside out.
Of course, that is technically true. Swallowing enough bleach will kill the coronavirus. That’s because the virus will eventually die out in the corpse of the person who died from drinking bleach, which is toxic poison if consumed internally.
(Do go ahead and use bleach to wipe down surfaces, though, as it will help decontaminate surfaces.)
Prime Care Associates in Coral Gables, a team of doctors affiliated with PrimeHealth Physicians, sent out a list of “myth busters” Tuesday.
“A lot of different information is circulating about COVID-19 and sometimes it’s hard to distinguish between fact and fiction,” the team said in an email.
Here are some of their “myth buster” answers to help you stay more informed about the facts of COVID-19.
COVID-19 myth busters
Do mosquitoes transmit COVID-19?
No, COVID-19 cannot be transmitted through mosquito bites.
Can you use an ultraviolet disinfection lamp to kill COVID-19?
“No, you should not use a UV lamp to sterilize hands or other areas of skin as UV radiation can cause skin irritation,” the physicians said.
Can spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body kill COVID-19?
Read the top of the story again. “No, spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body will not kill viruses that have already entered your body. Spraying alcohol or chlorine can be harmful to clothes or mucous membranes (like your eyes and mouth).”
Does taking a hot bath prevent COVID-19?
No. Taking a hot bath will relax you and perhaps cleanse you, which feels good, but would not prevent you from catching COVID-19. The best way to protect yourself against COVID-19 is by frequently cleaning your hands,” the physicians said.
Can eating garlic help prevent infection with COVID-19?
No. “Garlic is a healthy food that may have antimicrobial properties but there is no evidence that garlic can protect people from COVID-19,” the physicians said. Now, garlic may prevent vampires from getting you, if the old Hollywood movies are to be believed.
WHO weighs in on COVID-19 myths
The World Health Organization added several other myth busters regarding the coronavirus and home remedies.
▪ Adding pepper to your soup or other meals does not prevent or cure COVID-19. It’s tasty, though.
▪ COVID-19 is not transmitted through houseflies.
▪ 5G mobile networks do not spread COVID-19.
▪ Exposing yourself to the sun or to high temperatures does not prevent COVID-19.
“You can catch COVID-19 no matter how sunny or hot the weather is,” according to the World Health Organization. “Countries with hot weather have reported cases of COVID-19.” Hello, Florida. On Tuesday, the state’s coronavirus cases passed 37,400 as South Florida’s death toll hit 830. The noon temperature in Miami was 86 degrees.
Conversely, “there is no reason to believe that cold weather can kill the new coronavirus,” either, the WHO says. So moving to Alaska probably won’t help, though it sure is picturesque there.
▪ Being able to hold your breath for 10 seconds or more without coughing or feeling discomfort does not mean you are free from the coronavirus disease or any other lung disease.
▪ Drinking alcohol does not protect you against COVID-19. Maybe we were getting confused when we heard a high alcohol content on wipes can help kill the virus. But, like bleach, that’s on surfaces. Not by ingesting.
▪ Regularly rinsing your nose with saline won’t help prevent infection with the new coronavirus. No evidence.
▪ Hand dryers are not effective in killing the coronavirus. But it may not be a bad idea to air dry your washed hands rather than wiping them down on a used towel.
▪ Vaccines against pneumonia don’t provide protection against the new coronavirus. The novel virus needs its own vaccine. But “vaccination against respiratory illnesses is highly recommended to protect your health,” the health organization says.
▪ Antibiotics do not work against viruses, only bacteria, the WHO says. “The new coronavirus is a virus and, therefore, antibiotics should not be used as a means of prevention or treatment. However, if you are hospitalized for [COVID-19] you may receive antibiotics because bacterial co-infection is possible.”
This story was originally published May 5, 2020 at 1:20 PM.
