NIMS ​

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Covid 19: ​Myths, Rumours and Facts

Learn the facts, not the fiction​

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Myth: Spraying chlorine or alcohol on the skin kills viruses in the body
Fact: Applying alcohol or chlorine to the skin can cause harm, especially if it enters the eyes or mouth. These chemicals can disinfect surfaces, but people should not use them on their bodies. Also, these products cannot kill viruses inside the body.

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Myth: Only older adults and people with preexisting conditions are at risk of infections and complications

Fact: SARS-CoV-2, like other coronaviruses, can transmit to people of any age. However, older adults and individuals with preexisting health conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, or asthma, are more likely to become severely ill. While people under 40Trusted Source, including children, are less likely to become severely ill with COVID-19, the disease can lead to complications and death in anyone.

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Myth: Children cannot get COVID-19
Fact: Anyone, of any age, can develop the infection that causes COVID-19. So far, most COVID-19 cases have been in adults, but children are not immune. That said, most children trusted Source who develop COVID-19 have mild symptoms or none at all. Also, on May 15, 2020, the WHOTrusted Source released a commentary about an inflammatory condition in children and adolescents that may have links with COVID-19. The condition, called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children trusted Source, known as MIS-C, has features similar to Kawasaki disease and toxic shock syndrome. Scientists currently know little about this condition, but research trusted Source from May suggests that it is rare, “probably affecting no more than 1 in 1,000 children exposed to SARS-CoV-2.”

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Myth: COVID-19 is just like the flu

Fact: Infection with the virus SARS-CoV-2 can cause COVID-19, an illness that can cause flu-like symptoms, such as body aches, a fever, and a cough. Symptoms of either COVID-19 or the flu can be mild, severe, or rarely, fatal. Both illnesses can also cause pneumonia. However, the overall profile of COVID-19 is more serious. Different countries have reported different mortality rates, and the case fatality rate in the U.S. appears to be around 2.6%. While scientists are still determining the exact mortality rate based on developing data, it is likely to be many times higher than that of the seasonal flu.

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Myth: Everyone with COVID-19 dies 

Fact: This is false. As we explain above, COVID-19 is fatal for a small percentage of people who develop the illness. The WHO has reported that around 80%Trusted Source of people with COVID-19 experience a relative form of the illness and do not need special treatment in a hospital. Mild symptoms may include a fever, a cough, a sore throat, tiredness, and shortness of breath. Also, many people with the underlying infection experience no symptoms.

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Myth: Cats and dogs spread the coronavirus

Fact: There have been several reports trusted Source of pets developing the infection, including in the U.S. In most cases, the pets became sick after coming into contact with people who had COVID-19. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source, “There is no evidence that animals play a significant role in spreading the virus that causes COVID-19.” Scientists are debating the importance of these cases in animals. For instance, Jonathan Ball, a professor of molecular virology at the University of Nottingham, in the United Kingdom, says: “We have to differentiate between real infection and just detecting the presence of the virus. I still think it’s questionable how relevant it is to the human outbreak, as most of the global outbreak has been driven by human-to-human transmission.”