India confirms nearly 40 cases of the novel coronavirus till now. The death toll is rising in every country. Be it US, UK, Italy or any other part of the world. In the US there are more than 22 deaths due to this virus. And almost 500 cases are positive. We need to be pro-active for our health and should avoid fake news as well. Fake news is on its peak on social media channels like Facebook and WhatsApp.
Narendra Modi the prime minister of India appeals to the public to stay away from rumors and follow doctors’ advice. Donald Trump is also furious over fearmongering due to CoronaVirus. And need the US citizens to be away from the fake news. Quartz, a global news platform looks at some of the widespread claims on social media to verify the same. Let’s dive into how some doctors in India see this Virus.
“The most common symptoms of Covid-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea,” explains Dr. Basavaraj Kuntoji of Manipal Hospitals in Bengaluru. “These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any of these symptoms.”
How Can We Protect Ourselves?
- Wear a mask when visiting crowded places.
- Regularly clean your hands if possible with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
- Maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone in a crowded place who is coughing or sneezing.
- Follow clean respiratory hygiene by covering your mouth and nose whenever you cough or sneeze.
Viral rumors about Virus
Garlic or hot water will prevent the Virus: No.
“Our normal body temperature remains around 36.5°C to 37°C, regardless of the temperature of the hot water intake, bath or shower,” Dr. Kuntoji says. There is no scientific evidence to say that the coronavirus will not spread due to the intake of the garlic. Garlic is having antimicrobial properties not anti-virus properties.
Pneumonia vaccines or antibiotics can help against CoronaVirus: No.
“Vaccines against pneumonia, such as pneumococcal vaccine and Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib) vaccine do not protect against the coronavirus,” says Dr. Anup Dhir, at Delhi-based Apollo Hospital.
Masks can help: They are effective. With frequent hand-cleaning by alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water, doctors say.
Heat kills the virus: No experiments till now.
“Coronavirus outbreak is largely reported from countries where the temperature is lower, but countries like India and Pakistan have also detected the Covid-19 cases,” says Dr. Kuntoji. “Hence it is difficult to predict how this new virus is going to behave in the upcoming summer season in India.”
Most people (about 80%) recover without special treatment. Around one out of every six who contact Covid-19 can be seriously ill and develop difficulty in breathing. Older people and those with underlying medical problems are more likely to develop illnesses. People with fever, cough, and difficulty in breathing should seek medical consideration promptly.