Coronavirus: Do masks protect you? Will summer save us? Busting COVID-19 myths
From Donald Trump's claim that summer will save us, to a rise in the face mask use, Sky News examines the biggest COVID-19 myths.
Thursday 5 March 2020 11:44, UK
As the coronavirus outbreak continues to escalate, many are seeking comfort wherever they can find it.
From wearing surgical face masks on public transport, to dismissing COVID-19 as no more of a threat than the flu, people are understandably keen to put their mind at ease while the number of cases grows.
But with disinformation finding a welcome home on many corners of social media, it can be difficult to know just how concerned we should be - and how best we can keep ourselves safe.
Here Sky News examines some of the myths surrounding this coronavirus.
'COVID-19 is no worse than the flu'
Stroll into the replies of any major news organisation's tweets about the coronavirus and you will no doubt encounter plenty of armchair experts convinced that it's no worse than the winter flu.
"Hundreds of thousands of people die from flu every year," they say, in a bid to dismiss COVID-19's death toll.
Indeed, the US Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) estimate there have been upwards of 45 million seasonal flu cases between October 2019 and the end of February - with between 18,000 and 46,000 deaths.
Those numbers are certainly far larger than those associated with the new coronavirus (see the infection numbers in real time), but even at the top end of the scale that's a death rate of under 0.1%.
Professor Steven Riley, of Imperial College London's Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, told Sky News the death rate looks set to be "considerably higher" than flu.
"As more data becomes available, we are able to estimate the severity of this novel coronavirus," he told Sky News.
"Using a variety of data, and correcting for known biases, we estimate that approximately 1% of people infected with this virus will die as a result of that infection.
"Although this is lower than diseases such as Ebola or SARS, it is considerably higher than seasonal influenza."
'Wearing a face mask will protect me'
Face masks are becoming an increasingly common sight all around the world, and the UK is no exception - especially when it comes to public transport in London.
But most of the masks being used by the public - the flimsy surgical kind used in hospital operating theatres - are not going to do much to protect you from COVID-19.
Dr Nathalie MacDermott, a clinical lecturer at King's College London, told Sky News: "Surgical masks are not designed with a very decent filter on them so they're not able to really filter out finer particles such as viruses.
"They also don't always fit ideally around the face to provide enough protection for someone.
"We breathe out humidified air which essentially moistens the mask over time and once that mask becomes moist, it's really no longer very effective."
Dr Ben Killingley, consultant in acute medicine and infectious diseases at UCL Hospital, said wearing masks can also give people a "false sense of reassurance" that may lead to them ignoring other infection control practices.
'Rinsing my nose with salt water could help'
There is only limited evidence that it actually helps, but some swear by rinsing their nose with salt water as a way of recovering more quickly from the common cold.
But it has not been shown to prevent respiratory infections.
The NHS says "there is no evidence that regularly rinsing the nose with salt water protects you from coronavirus".
'Avoiding human contact means I won't get it'
Some workplaces are already encouraging people not to come into the office because of the coronavirus, and football clubs including and West Ham have banned players and staff from shaking hands.
France has banned gatherings of more than 5,000 people, prompting the Louvre to shut its doors.
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But it's not only human contact you need to be concerned about - the virus can live on hard surfaces for days.
Professor William Keevil, professor of environmental healthcare at the University of Southampton, said: "Our published human coronavirus work showed these viruses can survive three to four days on common touch surfaces such as plastics, ceramics, glass and stainless steel."
These could include things like door handles, chair arms, work tops and stair railings.
Professor Keevil said the lifespan of the virus makes washing your hands regularly and cleaning work surfaces especially important - and you should avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
'Pets can be infected'
One national newspaper recently featured a front page story about the first dog to have been infected.
But while there are ways to catch the coronavirus without direct human contact, pets are not something you need to worry about for the time being.
The NHS says there is "currently no evidence that companion animals or pets can be infected with coronavirus", although people are advised that washing your hands after contact with pets is always a good idea anyway.
'Post could be infectious'
On the topic of things you can't catch coronavirus from - it's highly unlikely you'll receive it in the post.
The NHS says you can rest easy about receiving letters and parcels sent from affected areas.
While viruses can live outside the body, they can't last as long as it takes for mail to be sent from China to the UK.
'The summer heat will kill the virus'
US President Donald Trump suggested last month that "a lot of people think that (coronavirus) goes away in April with the heat, as the heat comes in, typically that will go away in April".
He later said: "There's a theory that, in April, when it gets warm... historically, that has been able to kill the virus."
Mr Trump appears to be conflating the potential demise of COVID-19 with why and when the winter flu peters out.
There are a number of theories as to why that is, from people spending less time packed inside to escape the cold weather outdoors, to warmer temperatures killing off respiratory droplets much faster.
However, it is worth noting that the new coronavirus has made its presence felt in countries like Singapore, where it is extremely hot all year round.
Previous coronavirus outbreaks have also not suggested much seasonality, with SARS lasting into July in 2003.
Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) was first identified in Saudi Arabia, which is generally very hot.
The CDC has already contradicted the US president, with Dr Nancy Messionnier telling reporters last month that it was too early to say the coronavirus was seasonal.
She said: "I think it's premature to assume that. We haven't been through even a single year with this pathogen."
'Only older people are really at risk'
The World Health Organisation has issued advice specific to people over 60 or with long-term illnesses, telling them to avoid crowded places as they are most at risk of developing severe symptoms.
The vast majority of deaths worldwide have been older people and those with pre-existing health conditions.
But the rest of us still need to be wary of the illness - while being infected may only lead to mild symptoms in a healthy younger person, they could end up passing it on to someone far more vulnerable.
With that in mind, none of us should take the risks of infection lightly.
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