5 myths about the coronavirus and the truth behind them

Coronavirus is relatively new and studies about it are pretty much ongoing. We learn something about it every day and it is important that we get our information from reliable sources to avoid fake news and misleading reports.

Below are some of the myths about the coronavirus living on the internet. Try not to shake your head while reading this.

Only old people are affected by the coronavirus

While it is true that the elderly are more prone to contract the virus, everyone can be infected by the coronavirus. Senior citizens and those with pre-existing medical conditions are likely to have it more severely, but your youth is not a protection against the virus.

COVID-19 will not spread in hot countries

Even POTUS Donald Trump said that the coronavirus is like the flu that will go away as summer comes, let me just share that in the Philippines where I live, the temperature is at 30 degrees Celsius and above and we have more than 9,000 confirmed cases and counting at the time of this writing.

While the virus thrives in cold temperatures, the temperature that is needed to kill or inactivate the virus is estimated to vary from 55-65 degrees Celsius. Moreover, there are cases in other tropical countries like the Caribbean region, the African continent, South Asia and the Middle East.

Drinking alcoholic beverage will kill the virus in the system

I know that anyone who likes to drink will find an excuse to have a glass. There is no evidence that alcoholic beverage is a cure to coronavirus. In Iran, some people consumed methanol thinking that it will kill the virus. Around 700 people died. Alcohol kills the virus but at very high concentrations that will scald the lining in your mouth, your nose, and your throat. You certainly kill the virus but you kill yourself too.

5G networks cause the virus to spread

Conspiracy theorists claimed that 5G networks transmit coronavirus causing some Londoners to set some cell towers on fire. However, WHO claimed that the virus can be transmitted through respiratory droplets when people with COVID-19 sneezes, cough, or talk.

Coronavirus was made to annihilate humankind

Another conspiracy theory found on the web is that coronavirus is a man-made virus that is created as a biological warfare. There is no proof that the new strain of coronavirus is man-made.