As the COVID-19 situation progresses, so does the amount that we know about the virus. Misinformation spreads quickly, though, making it difficult to keep track of what is true about the novel coronavirus, and what has been proven to be false.
To stay healthy and well-informed, you want to follow current advice from reliable sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).
Here are some myths and facts about COVID-19 to keep in mind:
- Fact: One of the best ways to protect yourself is to keep your hands clean.
- Washing your hands with soap and warm water will get rid of viruses that may be on your hands. Washing often can help you avoid being infected if you touch your eyes, mouth, or nose. Soap and warm water work best, but a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can work too. Learn more about when hand sanitizers may be a good option by reading our Hand Sanitizers: 5 Do's & Don'ts article, here.
- Myth: You can kill COVID-19 by using an ultraviolet (UV) lamp.
- UV lamps should not be used to clean your hands or other areas of the skin. UV light can cause skin irritation.
- Fact: People of all ages can get COVID-19.
- Anyone can be affected by this virus. Older people and those with certain health conditions are more likely to suffer severe symptoms if they become infected. Younger people can also get sick with COVID-19, though it is more likely that their symptoms would be mild. It’s important for those less at risk for serious illness to still follow the recommended precautions, so that they do not pass the virus on to someone who is more at risk.
- Myth: Spraying alcohol or chlorine on your body can kill the virus.
- Alcohol and chlorine will not kill viruses that are already in your body. Neither will drinking alcohol. Spraying these chemicals on your skin could harm sensitive areas, like your eyes or mouth. Instead of using these chemicals on yourself, use them to disinfect commonly used surfaces and objects, like kitchen counters and doorknobs.
- Fact: The virus may not cause symptoms right away.
- It can take anywhere from 2 to 14 days before people who are infected become sick and develop symptoms like a fever, cough, or shortness of breath. This is why it is important to socially distance yourself from others: you may be infectious and not know it, or vice versa.
- Myth: Antibiotics will work against COVID-19.
- Antibiotics can't fight viruses, like COVID-19. They only work against bacteria. If you're hospitalized with COVID-19, however, your practitioner might give you antibiotics in order to protect you against certain types of pneumonia.
- Fact: Vaccines for pneumonia and the flu won't protect you from COVID-19.
- It's true that these vaccines don't offer protection against COVID-19. But they are important for other reasons. Almost everyone 6 months and older needs a flu shot every year. Kids under 2 years, adults over 65, people who smoke, and people with certain medical conditions also need the pneumococcal vaccine.
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