'14 hoaxes around the new coronavirus' controversial by science

The new coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19) is a global epidemic and continues to attract people's attention. The interest of such people has created many 'hoaxes' about the new coronavirus and COVID-19 , and has caused various actual damages such as arson incidents on 5G radio towers occurring all over the world . Live Science, a science-based news media, has broken out 14 of the most famous hoaxes.

14 Coronavirus myths busted by science | Live Science
https://www.livescience.com/coronavirus-myths.html

◆ Hoax 1: New Coronavirus is a type of common cold
It is true that the coronavirus family to which the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) belongs contains four types of cold-causing viruses ( HCoV-229E , HCoV-NL63 , HCoV-OC43 , HCoV-HKU1 ). is. However, the Coronavirus family is a large group of viruses, and many viruses are classified. All of the viruses that cause colds are viruses that infect humans mainly, but it is suggested that the new coronavirus may have made some animal an 'intermediate host' before it infects humans. But there is a big gap.

◆ Hoax 2: The new coronavirus was artificially created
'There is no evidence that the new coronavirus was artificially created,' Live Science said. Both SARS and MERS coronaviruses , which are believed to be derived from bats, have characteristics very similar to the new coronavirus, and it is currently believed that the new coronavirus is also derived from bats.

Many studies supporting this myth have been published. In February 2020, a research result was announced that 'genetic mutations in a novel coronavirus appear to be consistent with mutations that occur in natural evolution.'

Scientists refute the conspiracy theory that ``the new coronavirus was artificially created''-GIGAZINE

In May 2020, a research result was reported that 'a virus similar to the new coronavirus was detected in wild bats'.

New evidence denying the ``artificial virus theory'' that a coronavirus closest to the new coronavirus so far is found in wild bats-GIGAZINE

Hoax 3: Pets may spread the new coronavirus widely
So far, it has been reported that positive reactions of the new coronavirus have been detected in pet cats , dogs , and tigers in the zoo . However, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) takes the view that 'there is no evidence that pets play a significant role in the epidemic of the novel coronavirus.'

However, CDC cites the general fact that various viruses move through animal fur etc., and after touching a pet with this, it is recommended to wash hands and maintain hygiene. Recommendation. In addition, if you become infected with COVID-19, you are advised to leave the care of your pet to someone else just in case.

Deception 4: Children are not infected with the new coronavirus
The infection rate and severity of COVID-19 vary depending on age, it is found that elderly people over 80 years old are at high risk of serious illness, and that children are hard to be infected with the new coronavirus and difficult to get serious illness even if infected doing.

Confirmed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that ``children are less likely to get severe coronavirus infections''-GIGAZINE

However, 'children do not get infected' is a hoax, and in fact, between February and May 2020, 16 children under the age of 18 were killed by COVID-19 in the United States. In addition, it is reported that children are accompanied by COVID-19 infection, which is accompanied by symptoms similar to those of toxic shock syndrome and Kawasaki disease called 'Multisystem inflammatory syndrome'. A paper published in June 2020 reports that there are 186 children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in the United States, 4 of whom have died.

◆ Hoax 5: You should be able to immediately recognize if you are infected with the new coronavirus
COVID-19 has various symptoms such as fever, cough, headache, sore throat, body aches, dyspnea, nausea, vomiting (nausea) and loss of taste and smell. However, the American Institute for Scripps announced in June 2020 that ' 40-45 % of infected people are asymptomatic.'

Research results that 40-45% of people infected with the new coronavirus may be asymptomatic people-GIGAZINE

Therefore, there is a great possibility that you will not be aware of infection with the new coronavirus. The best way to predict whether you have been infected with the new coronavirus is 'loss of taste and smell'.

``Disappearance of taste and smell'' is predicted by high probability of new coronavirus infection from data of 18,000 people-GIGAZINE

Hoax 6: influenza is more deadly than COVID-19
Since there are many asymptomatic persons infected with COVID-19, it is difficult to accurately calculate the mortality rate. However, according to data from Johns Hopkins University , COVID-19 deaths in the United States account for about 4% of all infections, and epidemiologists at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine show a fatality rate of 0.5-. 1.0%'. On the other hand, the mortality rate of influenza is about 0.1%, so COVID-19 is considered to have a much higher mortality rate than influenza.

◆ Hoax 7: Vitamin C can prevent COVID-19
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for the human body and functions to support immune functions, neutralize free radicals that damage tissues in the body, and protect connective tissues that are vulnerable to pathogens. However, no studies have reported that vitamin C is effective in preventing or treating COVID-19, says Live Science. 'You will only get the benefits.'

Hoax 8: Parcels sent through China are contaminated with the new coronavirus
According to a study published in February 2020, the new coronavirus remains on the surface of certain objects such as metal, glass, and plastic for up to 9 days. However, in order for the virus to survive, it is necessary to have multiple environments such as appropriate temperature and humidity and lack of ultraviolet rays, and it is extremely unlikely that it will remain on letters or parcels for a long time. ..

◆ Hoax 9: Go to a Chinese restaurant and get infected with the new coronavirus
Live Science says, 'The new coronavirus is not only for people of Chinese descent. The logic is that Italian and Iranian restaurants are also dangerous,' he added.

◆Hoax 10: Drinking bleach can prevent COVID-19
In the United States, the hoax that 'bleach is effective for COVID-19' has spread, and there are many accidents where bleach disinfects food and drinks it directly.

The number of accidents of poisoning with detergents and disinfectants has increased sharply, is it due to the new coronavirus-GIGAZINE

The World Health Organization (WHO) urges that bleach is poisonous and can cause skin and eye damage and should not be sprayed or ingested under any circumstances.

◆ Hoax 11: Alcohol and garlic work for COVID-19
There is no data that certain foods prevent COVID-19. Rather, the WHO calls for refraining from drinking as it reduces the body's immunity and increases the risk of illness and mental health.

WHO officially recommends ``reducing alcohol consumption during a pandemic''-GIGAZINE

Regarding garlic, WHO says, 'it has an antibacterial effect, but it has not been confirmed to prevent the novel coronavirus.'

◆Hoax 12: 5G spreads the new coronavirus
From April to May 2020, the hoax that '5G, the next-generation mobile wireless communication system is spreading the new coronavirus,' became popular around social media, and many radio towers were actually set on fire. ..

It turned out that hoaxes on 5G radio tower due to hoax about new corona are spreading all over the world-GIGAZINE

WHO said, ``The new coronavirus spreads the infection through the sneezes, conversations, and the surface of the flying particles attached to the flying particles, or the surface of the object to which the flying particles are attached, and the epidemic is widespread even in countries without 5G networks. We warn that viruses cannot spread over radio waves or 5G networks.

◆ Hoax 13: The new coronavirus dies if warmed
According to the WHO, exposure to sunlight, raising the temperature of the room, and taking hot water cannot prevent infection with the new coronavirus. In extremely hot areas such as Arizona, infection with the new coronavirus is spreading.

◆Hoax 14: Wearing a mask causes carbon dioxide poisoning
The WHO acknowledged that wearing a medical mask for a long time may make you feel sick, and states that you will not be 'oxygen deficient' or 'carbon dioxide poisoning.' WHO calls for caution when wearing a medical mask to ensure there is no gap between the mask and the skin