To dispel some of the misinformation you may have seen on social media, below we address some of these myths:
Drinking methanol, ethanol or bleach prevents/cures COVID-19
- FACT: Drinking methanol, ethanol or bleach DOES NOT prevent or cure COVID-19 and can be extremely dangerous. They are poisonous and drinking them can lead to disability and death. You should NEVER drink them, they will not kill the virus in your body and they will harm your internal organs.
5G mobile networks spread COVID-19.
- FACT: Viruses cannot travel on radio/mobile networks. COVID is spreading in many countries that do not have 5G mobile networks.
Exposing myself to the sun or to temperatures higher than 25c degrees prevents/cures me from COVID-19.
- FACT: You can catch COVID-19 no matter how sunny or hot the weather is. Countries with hot weather have reported cases of COVID-19.
If I can hold my breath for 10 seconds or more without coughing or feeling discomfort it means I am free from COVID-19.
- FACT: You cannot confirm you have COVID-19 with a breathing exercise, which can be dangerous. The only way to confirm if you have COVID-19 is with a laboratory test.
Taking a hot bath prevents COVID-19.
- FACT: Taking a hot bath does not prevent COVID-19. Taking a hot bath with extremely hot water can be harmful as it can burn you.
You can use an Ultra-violet lamp on hands or other areas of skin to disinfect them.
- FACT: Ultra-violet lamps should NOT be used to disinfect hands or other areas of your skin. UV radiation can cause skin irritation and damage your eyes.
Vaccines against pneumonia will protect again the COVID-19 virus.
- FACT: Vaccines against pneumonia do not provide protection against COVID-19.
Rinsing my nose with saline prevents me from catching COVID-19.
- FACT: Rinsing your nose with saline does NOT prevent COVID-19. There is no evidence that regularly rinsing the nose with saline has protected people from infection with COVID-19.
Eating garlic helps prevent infection with COVID-19.
- FACT: Eating garlic does NOT prevent COVID-19. Garlic is a healthy food that may have some antimicrobial properties. However, there is no evidence from the current outbreak that eating garlic has protected people from COVID 19.