The coronavirus (COVID-19), a topic that is bothering the minds of people around the globe and remains an important subject to push updates by the health officials. Yet, misinformation and confusion remain over the abundance of guidance on the disease.
The panic of the disease COVID-19 has made many people behave as frantic as burying live poultry to drinking alcohol or leaving pets with no food and water. Prediction on zombie apocalypse or doomsday depends upon, in the ability of people to act responsibly and according to the actualities. This article highlights and ousts some of the most common myths that persist with the coronavirus.
About the virusBefore getting into the facts, let us walk you through the virology of the virus, SARS-CoV-2- the root cause of the trajectorial outbreak, COVID-19. Viruses undergo mutations and evolve with time. Natural selection plays a critical role in the widespread of a virus– one that propagates quick and replicates effectively in a living cell is the most successful in developing severe infection.
The virus that causes Covid-19 is far more lethal than the seasonal flu and more contagious than most of the flu outbreak occurred in the past decade. Genetic analysis of 103 samples by Chinese scientists, taken from patients infected with the virus, suggests that the two main strains emerged are designated as L and S. Strains L are found more prevalent than the S strain and research led by the team suggests that the L strain is more “aggressive”.
The VirusName - The name "coronavirus", derived from Latin corona, meaning "crown" or "wreath". The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) identified the virus as a strain of severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (SARS-COV-2). Despite the harsh novelty of the virus, it was earlier called as 2019-novel coronavirus.
Genetic material- positive-sense single-stranded RNA (+ssRNA)
Size- 50–200 nanometres in diameter.
Reservoir- Considered being bats, but studies suggest that humans were infected via an intermediate host.
Incubation Period- undetermined
Transmission- primarily via respiratory droplets from coughs and sneezes and Indirectly via contaminated surface.
The Science of Viruses
Viruses mainly comprise of three vital building blocks: ribonucleic acid (RNA), proteins and lipids. Cells infected with the virus start producing a lot of these building blocks which self-assemble and finally form the virus.
The science behind why an application of harsh chemical is not required to remove such potentially deadly virus is the absence of strong covalent bonds between those building blocks. Therefore, a simple soap does an effective job of inactivating the virus.
Soap works like wonder on Sars-CoV-2 and most viruses. The virus is a self-assembled and self-replicating nanoparticle in which the weakest link is the fats (lipid bilayer). We all know that Soap helps in removing the dirt and oil, which also contains fat. Therefore, soap dissolves the fat membrane of the virus and the building blocks falls apart, rendering the virus inactive.
1. Myth- Kills the elderly people but not the youngerThe chance of leading to serious respiratory symptoms because of the illness is higher in people with underlying health conditions than the people who do not have such conditions. However, young people are as vulnerable as the elderly people to get infected from the virus. Most importantly, the actions of young, healthy people, and their responsibility like reporting symptoms and following quarantine instructions, will have a significant role in protecting the vulnerable society and in minimizing the overall impact of the outbreak.
2. Myth- Wearing a double-facemask can keep the virus away Wearing a face mask is obvious that it is not a dreadnought against the virus and doesn't guarantee you of not getting sick. The viruses can transmit through the eyes or aerosols like cough droplets that can penetrate masks with ease. Yet, masks can help in capturing droplets, the main transmission route of coronavirus. A mask reduces the chances of the disease if the person is dealing in close contact with someone infected. People with symptoms of coronavirus, or with a positive result upon diagnosis, are recommended to wear a mask to protect others and the closed one. Therefore, masks are essential for the health officials and family members taking care of patients.
However, wearing masks when walking around the town or taking a taxi might make little or no difference. Perhaps wiping hands with 60% alcohol-based rub will help in preventing the infection rather than ordering a bulk-buy of masks. Remember, the world requires more masks now than it was ever needed, and we can help to meet the skyrocketing demand only if we abandon our needless needs of wearing a mask.
3. Myth- Drinking alcohol will reduce the risk of getting COVID-19Information on using an alcohol-based rub made few minds to misinterpret and take the matter to a whole new level. An assumption like drinking alcohol kills the virus and so less chance of developing or getting the infection, is one of the common myths that persist among the young minds. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends sanitizing hands with at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol, the active ingredients in CDC-recommended alcohol-based hand sanitizers, this inactivates viruses that resemble similar genetical and physical properties as, the 2019-nCoV. Hand hygiene reflects an important role in preventing the transmission of pathogens and thus minimizing the widespread of the disease. Since regular alcohol such as vodka, rum, whiskey contains a limited percentage of alcohol to inactivate the virus, therefore, consuming them or using one of this to sanitize is of no good.
"Be aware that both alcohol and chlorine can be useful to disinfect surfaces, but they need to be used under appropriate recommendations," the WHO said. Drinking alcohol won’t do any good once the virus enters your body. A normal human body maintains homeostasis (maintenance of body temperature) of 37°C, no matter what temperature it is outside. Therefore, once the virus makes an entry to your body, drinking alcohol will not help in stopping the virus to replicate.
4. Myth- Keeping the health officials uninformed and upon self-medication can help in getting recoveredRunning away from the health officials and socializing with people, even when someone diagnosed positive for coronavirus, is like a haphazard in disguise, risking other’s life and closed ones too. Additionally, by not reporting during the onset of symptom, in reality, is granting the virus with a sufficient amount of time to multiply, and thus paving a way for the infection to develop into a serious one.
Therefore, reporting the symptom to the proper authority, not only save thousands of lives around you but, also the family and the closed ones.
5. Myth- Getting infected from pets, Dogs and CatsCOVID-19 is a potentially lethal respiratory illness. It is believed to have originated from the bats of an exotic market in Wuhan, China and domestic pets like dogs and cats themselves do not appear to be carriers. However, the panic has forced many people to act as bizarre as burying live poultry, leaving pets with no food or to abandon them on the street.
Earlier, The World Health Organization reported that there is “no evidence that companion animals/pets such as dogs and cats can be infected with the new coronavirus.” However, the death of the first dog which tested positive for the coronavirus in Hongkong has caused many pet owners to worry.
Till date, there are two dogs found positive. The second case comes after an elderly Pomeranian tested “weak positive” and died two days after it was released from quarantine disease-free. It is advisable to stop kissing your pets and not to abandon them on the street. Probably, the Hongkong health officials reported that the first dog may have tested positive due to “environmental contamination”.
6. Myth- Are there any vaccines or specific medicines to prevent or treat COVID-19 To date, there is no specific medicine recommended to prevent or treat the new coronavirus. the WHO said. However, studies found that antimalarial drugs like chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are effective in treating the disease.
Four factors to remember that may help in avoiding the infection
Walking into a crowded place or a shop and the shopper has the coronavirus.
I. How long you are near the person
II. Whether that person projects cough droplets on you
III. How much you touch your face.
IV. Your age and health condition
The safest way to avoid the disease, COVID-19 is by taking an extra precaution, washing hands often and by not touching your face or mouth when you are out in public places.