Myths and Facts about COVID-19

While all of us are struggling amid COVID, we have to keep our eyes and ears open to knowing all that we should you and moreover, knowing the correct facts and not just any random piece of information, forward or rumours.

Here are a few myths and facts which might come handy for you: 

Myth: Can you always tell if someone has COVID-19?

FACT: No, the virus can be in someone’s body for up to 14 days before the symptoms show up, and some people will have such a mild case of COVID-19 that they might not notice that anything is wrong. That’s why it’s important for everyone to follow government advice – including hand washing, using tissues to catch coughs and sneezes, and avoiding crowds – to stop the spread of the virus, even if they feel healthy.

Myth: Will most people who get COVID-19 may get very sick or can be serious?

FACT: Most people who get COVID¬-19 will have a mild form of the illness and recover without needing professional medical care. Around eight out of every 10 people with COVID¬-19 will have mild symptoms, especially youth and children. Around one in six people will become severely ill and need hospital care. 

Myth: Does COVID-19 only affect old people, meaning young people don’t have to worry?

FACT: While COVID-19 can be more dangerous in elderly, anyone can get it including young people, some of whom become seriously ill. While we don’t yet fully understand why some people get more serious symptoms, we do know that young people are more likely to develop serious symptoms if they have certain underlying health conditions, for example asthma, heart conditions or untreated HIV. 

Myth: Are people living with HIV (human Immunodeficiency Virus) more likely to get seriously ill?

FACT: If you are living with HIV and on effective treatment there’s no evidence that you are at higher risk of developing serious COVID-19 symptoms. This is because your treatment will be keeping your immune system strong and your body able to deal with infections. If you are worried that you might have HIV, now is a good time to get tested so you can start treatment if you need it. 

Myth: Will drinking lots of warm drinks stop COVID-19?

FACT: There is no drink hot or cold that will protect you from COVID-19 or cure the illness. So far, there’s no proven cure for COVID-19 but most people recover by themselves. Taking paracetamol, drinking lots of liquids, and getting enough rest can help you manage your symptoms. But yes, warm golden milk and warm water can help you strengthen your immunity.

Over to you

We encourage you to avoid stepping outside until necessary and practice social distancing and regular hand washing with soap. All we can do is instead of creating rumors of scaring each other away, we can consume healthy home-made food to improve our immunity and do regular exercise to keep body active and fit.