Moez Uddin Ashrafee
Ill news runs apace, goes the saying. Let me tell you a secret. Rumours run faster. And this time, when the whole world has stumbled upon this corona virus pandemic, the rumour did do justice to its name. Social media is a well-set platform for spreading rumours.
One evening, I was watching Netflix and mom yelled out my name. I went to her. She told me tea had all the elements to fight Covid-19. I discovered that she got this information from a YouTube video which one of her friends had sent her over WhatsApp. Well, relief in belief, but misconceptions may lead to taking wrong decisions and would be a great barrier in our joint effort to prevent this pandemic. So let’s learn about some common misconceptions and the truths regarding corona virus.
Exposing yourself to the sun or temperatures higher than 25 degrees celsius DOES NOT prevent corona virus
You can catch Covid-19 no matter in what temperature you are. But it’s better to stay home right now. You know, less interaction, less contamination. You can go for a sunbath as soon as this is over.
You CAN recover from corona virus
Catching the new corona virus does not mean you’ll have it for the rest of your life. Be careful of the symptoms. If you have the symptoms, make sure to call the emergency corona virus hotline. And if you’re tested corona virus positive, don’t lose hope. You’ll recover. We believe in you.
Being able to hold your breath for more than 10 seconds without coughing or any discomfort DOES NOT imply you’re free from corona virus
The best way to confirm if you have corona virus is a laboratory test. The idea that it can be tested by some kind of breathing exercise is not true at all, and may result in health hazards instead.
Drinking alcohol DOES NOT protect you from Covid-19
Alcohol is injurious to health. The belief that alcohol protects you from corona virus is idiosyncratic. Wake up, humans!
The new corona virus CANNOT be transmitted through mosquito bites
Poor mosquitoes! They still get killed because they cause dengue. And in this lockdown, hospitals are only serving Covid-19 patients and emergency cases. So do stay aware of mosquito bites. Close the doors and windows of your house just before dusk. Use a mosquito net while sleeping. And again, cleanliness is the key. Keep your surroundings clean.
Hair dryers are NOT effective in killing corona virus
Wash your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water. Keep your surroundings clean. Give your mom’s hair dryer a rest. It’s not the hero this time.
Garlic/Tea/Thankuni leaf is NOT a cure for corona virus
All these foods mentioned are good for your health. They have several medicinal qualities. But they are not cures for corona virus.
There is no specific medicine to treat or cure corona virus
To date, no specific medicine has been discovered to cure corona virus. However, those infected with the virus should receive appropriate care to relieve and treat the symptoms, and those with severe illness should receive optimised supportive care.
Antibiotics are NOT EFFECTIVE in treating the corona virus
Antibiotics work against bacteria, not viruses. However if you are hospitalised, you may receive prescribed antibiotics to prevent bacterial co-infection.
The whole world is already stressing out over the virus. Further misconceptions and false reports regarding the virus will only worsen the situation. We obviously don’t want that. In these tough times, it is imperative for us, human beings, to stick together (not physically, obviously by maintaining social distance) to shake off this stress. Be it on your computer or against your neighbour, small steps to overcome these problems might eventually lead to a better environment for all of us. So, know right, act right. Stay home, stay safe. We shall overcome.