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Coronavirus: Fact Vs. Fiction

Published

5 years ago

February 28, 2020

The World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a global health emergency. We know many of you have concerns and questions about the coronavirus.

What is a coronavirus?

A coronavirus is a large group of viruses. There are many different types of coronaviruses — some cause severe disease.

What is COVID-19?

This specific disease started in 2019 with a group of people in Wuhan, China. From there, it spread from direct contact with family, friends and medical staff. “COVI” stands for coronavirus, “D” stands for disease, and “19” is the year when this virus was found.

How is it spread?

This type of coronavirus is spread through tiny droplets from a cough or sneeze. Since those droplets enter the air, there is a chance this virus can spread airborne.

What are the symptoms?

Fever
Cough
Body ache
Fatigue
Pneumonia

Fact vs. Fiction

Fiction: There is a vaccine to cure this type of coronavirus

There is no current vaccine people can get to protect themselves from the virus. There is one in the works, but months of testings are required before the treatment is finalized.

Fact: More people have the flu than this coronavirus

There are millions of cases of the flu reported every year in the United States. Right now, there are 59 cases of this coronavirus in the country — none are deadly so far.

For perspective, there are about 2,700 deaths worldwide from the coronavirus. On average, the flu kills about 30,000 people a year in the United States alone.

Fiction: You should not receive packages shipped from China because you’ll get the virus

People receiving packages from China are not at risk of getting the new coronavirus. According to the World Health Organization, coronaviruses do not survive long on objects like letters or packages.

Fiction: You can kill the coronavirus by spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body

Alcohol or chlorine will not kill viruses that have already entered your body.

Fact-ish: Garlic can help sick people

Garlic does have antimicrobial properties, but there is no evidence that shows eating garlic will protect people against this new coronavirus.

How can you protect yourself?

If you are feeling sick, stay home. If you have a fever and are having trouble breathing, see your doctor. Doctors can diagnose people with the coronavirus through a test called PCR which identifies the disease’s genetic fingerprint.

Antibiotics do not work against a virus, only bacteria, so don’t try and take a bunch of those hoping you’ll protect yourself.

The best way to fight off the coronavirus or the flu is to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Avoid contact with sick people and wash your hands.

The incubation period – between infection and showing any symptoms – lasts up to 14 days, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

But some researchers say it may be as long as 24 days.

And Chinese scientists say some people may be infectious even before their symptoms appear.

How deadly is the coronavirus?

Based on data from 44,000 patients with this coronavirus, the WHO says:

81% develop mild symptoms
14% develop severe symptoms
5% become critically ill
The proportion dying from the disease, which has been named Covid-19, appears low (between 1% and 2%) – but the figures are unreliable.

Thousands are still being treated but may go on to die – so the death rate could be higher. But it is also unclear how many mild cases remain unreported – so the death rate could also be lower.

Sources:

World Health Organization

Johns Hopkins Medicine

Culled from: NBC

Additional information: BBC