Busting myths about COVID-19
There is a lot of information on the internet, but not all of it is reliable. Be careful with what you read. Here we correct some common myths.
- COVID-10 can make anyone sick, regardless of your race or ethnicity. Fear and anxiety about COVID-19 can cause people to avoid or reject others even though they are not at more risk for spreading the virus.
- Currently there is no evidence that food can transmit COVID-19. In general, there is likely very low risk of spread from food products or packaging that are shipped over a period of days or weeks at room temperature, refrigerated, or frozen.
- There is no reason to believe that cold weather can kill the virus.
- Taking a hot bath does not prevent infection with COVID-19.
- Hand dryers are not good at killing COVID-19. To protect yourself against the new coronavirus, frequently wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub.
- Spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body will not kill viruses that have already entered your body. Spraying such substances can be harmful to your eyes and mouth, as well as your clothing.
- Vaccines against pneumonia (such as pneumococcal vaccine and Hib vaccine) do not provide protection against COVID-19.
- There is no evidence that regularly rinsing the nose with saline has protected people from infection with the new virus.