MythBusters: Viral edition

By Quicksilver

Fact or Myth: The virus freely rides the wind. Thus, wearing face masks makes us immune from it.

01

Busted. Catching the disease through the air is highly improbable. Like other Coronavirus strains, the COVID-19 is not airborne. Although lab tests have proven that the virus can suspend in the air for an extended amount of time, its potency of infection lowers through the passage of time, as there have been no confirmed lab tests that state that suspended COVD-19 particles are potent enough in infecting others. What is true though, is that the virus is carried by microscopic respiratory droplets called aerosol. The virus that is contained in tiny droplets of human aerosol travels at an average of 50mph in a cough, and of 100mph in a sneeze, both of which are capable of shooting 100,000 droplets. Lab tests have also showed that infected droplets can travel to distances of one to two meters before falling to the ground. And though face masks protect the surrounding people from your droplets, the not-so-flush fit of the surgical and common face masks still leaves a chance for infection, thus making social distancing a better tool of prevention than cloth masks.

Fact or Myth: The virus is just a super Saiyan version of the common cold

02

Busted. Named after its pronged appearance, the Coronavirus is a large group of viruses which have varying degrees of lethality and transmissibility. COVID-19 does share resemblances with other coronaviruses, as all these diseases attack the upper respiratory tract. However, the COVID-19 did not evolve from the common colds, as these two viruses differ in structure and protein composition not to mention the degree of its lethality and rate of transmission, these two are nothing alike. The Corona or crown of this family of viruses are the spiny protuberances on their surfaces, the viruses utilize these prongs to infect and attack the host cells. Unlike the other more common viruses that affect a person mildly, the COVID-19 is one lethal crown of thorns. Early investigations believe that the COVID-19 came from a bat which has rapidly evolved into a literal breathtaking, economy-crashing, graduation-wrecking disease.

Fact or Myth: The virus was designed in the lab as a biological weapon

03

Busted. Despite the circulating “statements of an escaped Chinese scientist argued that COVID-19 is man-made” making their way to the social media, there are still no irrefutable pieces of evidences that suggest that the virus is lab-grown. These propagandas, however, are believed to pin down the blame on one country, expecting liability and accountability. After extensive genome sequencing, Kristian Andersen, PhD, an associate professor of Scripps Research has said that the COVID-19 “Originated through natural processes,”. Leading researchers also trashed the ‘man-made virus’ idea by stating that no country has the capability to produce a disease of that caliber, yet. And so, amidst the intriguing origination stories which range from a bateating nation, to a furry-aroused Chinese man, one thing is for sure, and that is that the COVID-19 is not a man-made disease.

04

Fact or Myth: Getting COVID-19 is an assurance of death

Busted. The latest data show us the number of cases surging close to the 2-million mark. With 1,995,557 total recorded cases, only 6.34% of these cases have died. A study disclosed by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention also disclosed that about 81% of people who infected with COVID-19 have mild symptoms respiratory, symptoms that range from sore throat to lethargy. About 13.8% experience severe sickness, that of which is manifested by the shortness of breath and the need for a continuous supply of oxygen, and about 4.7% are critical, the unlucky ones fall to severe respiratory failure, multiple organ failure, and death. With the global numbers crunched down, the numbers show that people recovering from the disease greatly outnumber those who die.

05

Fact or Myth: If you have coronavirus, signs and symptoms will clearly manifest

Busted. One of the reasons why COVID-19 has spread around the globe so easily is that a person can be exposed to the virus but not show any symptoms for up to 14 days. The majority of those who have fallen ill have reported that they have not experienced any symptoms nor have seen any signs on their first 1-14 days of having contracted the virus. Feeling glee and symptom-free, the unknowing victims continue to mingle with other people, unbeknownst to the fact that they have become carriers of the virus. This is a common story that we hear from communities gravely stricken by the virus. However, after the asymptomatic period that can stretch up to 14 days, the infected begin to feel the symptoms that start from coughing to sore throat. Early commencement of fever, cough, diarrhea, difficulty in breathing and loss of energy are the combined symptoms often associated with the COVID-19 — but at the initial onset, no symptom may even be observed at all.

Fact or Myth: Gargling salt water and/or throat disinfectants can help prevent the onset of the coronavirus

06

Busted: Gargling lukewarm salt water may help with a sore throat, but not with the coronavirus. This false remedy against the virus first made its appearance in the social media. Netizens quickly believed that the convenient gargling prevention did work. After hearing the false claim from an Arab ‘’scientist”, the post went viral and quickly made its way to one of the most believed false method against COVID-19. The viral post claimed that gargling water mixed with salt prevents the virus to do any harm by process of disinfecting the throat. But that’s not the case. Gargling with salt water is a well-known way to soothe an achy throat, but this COVID-19 is clearly out of salt’s league. Although this remedy is effective against common colds and sore throat, as of now, there’s no evidence that gargling contributes to anything to the prevention of the COVID-19.

Fact or Myth: The “breath test” — Holding your breath for at least 10 seconds can determine the presence of the COVID-19

07

Busted: the length of time someone can hold their breaths is never an indicator of an underlying COVID-19 infection. This claim came from a so-called Japanese scientist who said that the unobstructed and virus-free respiratory system will easily enable a healthy person to his/her breath for a minimum of 10 seconds. From then on, several “experts” also emerged out of the blue, supporting the effectivity of the 10-second breath hold, they allege it to be “a simple self-check that we can do every morning,”. The steps which the post enumerated to do are, “Take a deep breath and hold your breath for more than 10 seconds. If you complete it successfully without coughing, without discomfort, stiffness or tightness, etc., it proves there is no Fibrosis in the lungs, basically indicates no infection. In critical time, please selfcheck every morning in an environment with clean air.” The poorly written post is false. World Health Organization (WHO) released a statement that this method is non-scientific and ineffective. People with underlying respiratory problems may have difficulties in prolonging their breaths, the same thing goes for the elderly. While COVID-19-stricken asymptomatic individuals may have zero difficulties holding theirs. What WHO recommends is that in case of doubt, see a doctor and get tested.

08

Fact or Myth: Heat can easily destroy the coronavirus

Plausible: like any other viruses, heat can kill the COVID-19 – that is if it is subjected to extreme heat. Shannon Sovndal, MD, EMS medical directress of Boulder, Colorado. Affirmed that heat can kill the virus. But the everyday tolerable heat that we go through may seem to be inadequate. “Heat in your everyday normal life won’t kill coronavirus”. She added. Unlike the common flu which tends to die out in a dry and hot environment, the COVID-19 thrives very well in hotter environments including Australia and the Philippines. The ‘heat argument’ gave people a false sense of optimism, arguing that in the coming summer months, the subtle increase of temperature will be enough to rid the world of the virus. The danger in this false hope is that gullible people will break loose of their houses and have themselves contract the virus. While it is true that hospitals and medical facilities make use of heat as a way of disinfecting and sterilizing the apparatus. To achieve this, a heat of 320 °F must be applied. The daily things of hot showers, morning coffee, and sun exposure may just be pointless to rid the virus.

09

Fact or Myth: A dose of Vitamin C a day will keep the virus away

Plausible. Vitamin C is extremely unlikely to help people fight off the new coronavirus. Any evidence that clearly presents vitamin C as a potent agent against COVID-19 is still absent. For years, we are told to take vitamin C to protect ourselves from the less lethal common cold, but the fact is, vitamin C has never shown any correlation in warding off the common cold. Although it can shorten the duration of the symptoms, its preventive capabilities are yet to be found. Truly, vitamin C may have its ways against the other viruses, the assurance that it will have the same effect on COVID-19 is still highly improbable. The same holds true to other so-called “virus-proof” supplements such as ginseng extracts, honey, and vitamin D, either.

10

Fact or Myth: Pets can be infected and be carriers of the virus

Confirmed: New evidence may suggest that animals can contract the coronavirus. A four-year-old tiger at the Bronx Zoo tested positive for COVID-19. A Hong Kong 17-year old Pomeranian also tested positive for the virus. The transmission to the pets prompted researchers to make further laboratory tests and investigate the probability of spread from canid to hominid. One thing to keep in mind though is that as of this moment, there is still no evidence that suggest that physical interactions to animals can spread the infection to people.