COVID-19 myths

• Is it true that Covid-19 is transmitted in a cold climate and not in a hot and humid climate?

  Covid-19 can be transmitted in any climate. Wherever you are, no matter what kind of climate, you have to practice personal hygiene, i.e., wash your hands often, cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough, and wear masks. And the most protected is the one who is vaccinated. 

  
• Can vitamin and mineral supplements cure COVID-19?

  Fact: Neither vitamins nor mineral elements have an antiviral effect.

  
• Can eating garlic 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 the new coronavirus.

  
• Can drinking alcohol help prevent Covid-19?

  Alcohol, or more specifically, ethanol, possesses bactericidal and antiviral effects. In addition, if it has a density of 70-98 %, it can disinfect surfaces, hands, and instruments. When a person consumes an alcohol-containing liquid in huge quantities that can cause severe alcohol poisoning, it can only reach 5 g/liter in his blood, or 5 ppm. And that density is insufficient for antibacterial or antiviral effects.
   

  
• Can antibiotics prevent or treat COVID-19?

  Fact: Neither antibiotics nor other antimicrobial agents have antiviral effects. 

  
• Can digital thermometers be 100% effective in detecting Covid-19 patients? ¹

  It may take the virus 1-14 days to incubate and cause symptoms like fever, so it cannot be used to identify asymptomatic patients. Furthermore, high fever is frequent in many other diseases, and COVID-19 is diagnosed if the PCR test is positive. 

• Can spraying alcohol or chlorine on your body kill the virus inside? ¹

  Besides not killing the virus inside your body, it could damage clothes and other tissues like eyes and lips.

• Is there any drug that can treat Covid-19?

  Fact: At present, no drug can treat the disease. Therefore, patients should receive proper and supportive care to alleviate the symptoms. 

• Can Covid-19 be transmitted through goods produced in countries with ongoing transmission?

  Fact: Although it can last on surfaces for many hours, the environment, transportation, and varying temperatures during shipment make it difficult for the virus to remain active. However, if you feel the surface may be contaminated, clean it with a disinfectant and wash your hands after touching it.

• Can Covid-19 be transmitted through mosquitoes?

  Fact: There is no evidence that the novel coronavirus can be transmitted through mosquitoes. However, the virus can be spread through droplets from coughing, sneezing, or a patient’s saliva.

• How can we be sure that our clothes don’t spread Covid-19?

  Fact: Besides showering every day, you should wash your clothes using detergent or soap in 60-90 °C water or add bleach. Then, dry the clothes in a high-temperature dryer or under the sun.