Coronavirus and COVID-19: Fact versus fiction

[rooster59]

Coronavirus and COVID-19: Fact versus fiction

By Kate Kelland and Julie Steenhuysen

 

FILE PHOTO: A 3D-printed coronavirus model is seen in front of the words coronavirus disease (Covid-19) on display in this illustration taken March 25, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

 

(Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's musings about whether disinfectants and ultraviolet light can be inserted into patients' bodies to treat COVID-19 have alarmed doctors and drawn warnings from the makers of Lysol, Dettol and Clorox.

 

Here are some other claims that have circulated about how to treat COVID-19 or stop the transmission of the new coronavirus, and the facts according to doctors and health experts:

 

TREATMENT

 

Fiction: Disinfectant injected into people infected with the new coronavirus could help clear COVID-19, the disease it causes.

 

Fact: Drinking or injecting bleach or other disinfectants is extremely dangerous and could result in death.

 

Fiction: Ultraviolet light inserted into the body could help kill the virus and speed recovery.

 

Fact: While UV light is known to kill viruses contained in droplets in the air, doctors say there is no way it could be introduced into the human body to target cells infected with COVID-19.

 

Fiction: Antibiotics can prevent and treat the new coronavirus.

 

Fact: Antibiotics do not work against viruses, only bacteria. They will not prevent or treat infection with the new coronavirus.

 

There are currently no specific proven medicines for COVID-19 infection, but those infected can relieve and treat mild symptoms with over-the-counter fever-reducing medicines such as acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol, and aspirin.

 

TRANSMISSION

 

Fiction: The new coronavirus can be spread by mosquito bites and in Chinese food.

 

Fact: No. The new coronavirus is a respiratory virus that spreads primarily via droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or breathes out, or through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose.

 

PROTECTION

 

Fiction: Regularly rinsing your nose with saline can prevent infection with COVID-19.

 

Fact: There is no evidence that regularly rinsing the nose with saline has protected people. There is some weak evidence that the practice can help some people recover more quickly from the common cold, but it does not prevent respiratory infections.

 

Fiction: Some social media posts suggest that spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body can protect against COVID-19 infection, or that gargling bleach or drinking excessive amounts of water can somehow "flush it out."

 

Fact: There is no evidence to back these claims.

 

Good hygiene practices including frequent hand washing and avoiding close social contact can help reduce the risk of infection.

 

Fiction: Hand dryers are effective in killing the new coronavirus.

 

Fact: No. Hand dryers are not effective against COVID-19, but frequently cleaning your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub, or washing them with soap and water, is. Clean hands should be dried thoroughly with a clean towel or air dryer.

 

Fiction: Cold weather, hot weather, snow, eating garlic or taking a hot bath have also been suggested as ways people can prevent themselves from becoming infected.

 

Fact: There is no evidence behind these claims and no evidence as yet to suggest that COVID-19 will be affected by weather or the seasons.

 

The best way to protect yourself is by washing your hands frequently and avoiding contact with anyone who might be infected. This way, you can eliminate viruses that may be on your hands and avoid infection that might occur by touching your eyes, mouth and nose.

 

(Reporting by Kate Kelland in London and Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago; Editing by Howard Goller)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-04-25

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[topt]

16 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

and in Chinese food.

Not heard this one before.........guess it depends who prepared it.........

[Tounge Thaied]

Best discussion EVER!!!! Finally some sanity on the Covid19 discussion.
 

 

Edited April 25, 2020 by Tounge Thaied

[473geo]

I was under the impression it could be beneficial to drink water and rinse covid in the back of the throat into the stomach where it would die rather than leave to be taken into the lungs - not a cure for sure but maybe an assist

 

Also understood antibiotics are not used to 'cure' covid but to assist in fighting the bacterial pneumonia (which can kill) caused by covid, so in some cases may well have a part to play - again not a cure but a valuable assist if used in the correct circumstances

 

When I see the statement 'there is no evidence' appears to me that this is a double sided statement meaning there is no evidence for....or against

 

However the drinking disinfectant is definitely off the menu

Edited April 25, 2020 by 473geo

[frenetic]

4 minutes ago, 473geo said:

Also understood antibiotics are not used to 'cure' covid but to assist in fighting the bacterial pneumonia (which can kill) caused by covid, so in some cases may well have a part to play - again not a cure but a valuable assist if used in the correct circumstances

 

 

Covid-19 does not cause bacterial pneumonia. The virus itself infects the lungs and causes the pneumonia symptoms

[473geo]

8 minutes ago, frenetic said:

Covid-19 does not cause bacterial pneumonia. The virus itself infects the lungs and causes the pneumonia symptoms

Is it not the case covid damages the ace cells the infected cells are the cause of the pneumonia as the immune system tries to clear them

[Matzzon]

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

U.S. President Donald Trump's musings about whether disinfectants and ultraviolet light can be inserted into patients' bodies to treat COVID-19 have alarmed doctors and drawn warnings from the makers of Lysol, Dettol and Clorox.

That´s good PR for the upcoming election.

[mrfill]

4 hours ago, frenetic said:

Covid-19 does not cause bacterial pneumonia. The virus itself infects the lungs and causes the pneumonia symptoms

... and those symptoms do not respond to normal pneumonia treatment, hence the need for ventilators in serious cases. Once on a ventilator, survival chances are well under 50% according to the NHS.

https://metro.co.uk/2020/04/07/65-people-put-ventilators-will-die-nhs-data-shows-12521335/

[metisdead]

Some troll posts and replies have been removed.

 

A post calling this Covid-19 pandemic a fake pandemic has been removed as per the UPDATED NOTICE TO MEMBERS POSTING ON THAIVISA AMID COVID-19 - 25 MARCH 2020 in which the following is stated:

 

 

Do not post news or any form of content, including video, audio, images, social media posts that contains messages that may cause people to be afraid or intentionally distort information, causing misunderstanding during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

Any posts or topics which our moderation team deems to be scaremongering, deliberately misleading or has been posted to deliberately distort information will be removed without warning. You may also be subject to a posting suspension or have your profile permanently suspended from the site. 

 

Thank you for your co-operation.

[Justgrazing]

6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

 

The best way to protect yourself is by washing your hands frequently and avoiding contact with anyone who might be infected. This way, you can eliminate viruses that may be on your hands and avoid infection that might occur by touching your eyes

All common sense .. Mask wearing out in public personally should be made obligatory despite some of the jury still being out in their effectiveness according to some experts .. 

Gargling with TCP as this virus is said to take hold in the back of the throat has been one that might hold some merit remembering to spit it out obviously when finished .. 

[brewsterbudgen]

One thing that I think we can all agree on is that using alcohol-based hand sanitiser helps.  One thing that Thailand has done well is to ensure that this is available everywhere, to purchase, but also for free in lifts, stations, entrances to malls, shops, offices and at supermarket checkouts.

[cdemundo]

"emergency room doctor and entrepreneur";  

Love to hear his opinions on traumatic injuries and how to make money in emergency medicine.

As far as infectious disease, well I will listen to virologists and infectious disease specialists.

 

 

 

[bluesofa]

58 minutes ago, cdemundo said:

"emergency room doctor and entrepreneur";  

Love to hear his opinions on traumatic injuries and how to make money in emergency medicine.

As far as infectious disease, well I will listen to virologists and infectious disease specialists.

I'm guessing the phrase "emergency room doctor and entrepreneur" was used in the video 'Dr. Erickson Covid-19 Briefing', as you didn't credit where it was from?

 

Assuming that's the origin, I must admit the watching the video initially I thought both the doctors seemed to have an interest in what was happening, and trying to suggest a practical approach - which was good.

 

However as the press conference progressed, it did occur to me that perhaps both the doctors had more of an agenda in trying to end the lockdown. Rather than just offering an opinion that it might be practical to ease the restrictions, they both appeared (to me) to be quite adamant that everything should get back to normal.

I'm not taking sides regarding the lockdown, but I felt it wasn't just a medical opinion they were offering.

 

[RocketDog]

21 hours ago, Tounge Thaied said:

Best discussion EVER!!!! Finally some sanity on the Covid19 discussion.
 

 

Actually there is quite a bit of sanity available. The trick is recognizing it and distinguishing it from insanity. These guys do not hold the Truth only in their hands.

 

Although they made some valid points they failed to understand that standing in lines for food at a market may be necessary but not going to a coffee shop. 

 

The simple truth about any potential danger is that minimizing your exposure to it, when possible, just makes sense. 

 

I found his diatribe misleading and leveraging his occupation to boost the credibility of all he said is dangerous. What is clear is that his next boat payment is in danger. 

 

Just because he's a doctor doesn't mean he's infallible. 

 

People, please scrutinize what you see, from ANY source, very carefully before acting on it. 

Edited April 26, 2020 by RocketDog
Addition

[metisdead]

A post commenting on moderation has been removed. 

[thaibeachlovers]

18 hours ago, Justgrazing said:

All common sense .. Mask wearing out in public personally should be made obligatory despite some of the jury still being out in their effectiveness according to some experts .. 

Gargling with TCP as this virus is said to take hold in the back of the throat has been one that might hold some merit remembering to spit it out obviously when finished .. 

 

People sneezing and coughing should not be out in public even wearing a mask.

Edited April 26, 2020 by thaibeachlovers

[thaibeachlovers]

3 hours ago, RocketDog said:

but not going to a coffee shop

Sick people are unlikely to be going out for coffee. However, sick people still need to eat. If I get this I caught it from someone at the supermarket.

[metisdead]

A post using content from an unapproved YouTube source has been removed:

 

 

18) Social Media content is not to be used as  source material unless it is from a recognized or approved news media source,  the source of any such material (Twitter, Facebook  etc.) should always be shown.

 

[RocketDog]

4 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Sick people are unlikely to be going out for coffee. However, sick people still need to eat. If I get this I caught it from someone at the supermarket.

You misunderstood my point. The doctors were rationalizing unnecessary exposure by equating it to arguably necessary exposure. I was challenging that logic.

 

People who live alone may feel that they must leave for supplies, but in fact there are multiple options for food delivery available. 

 

To your point :

It is rather well known at this now that contagious people may not know they are or appear sick. So yes, they may unwittingly be out for coffee. 

 

The best way to minimize a risk factor is to avoid it completely. 

 

That said, I go to Makro every 15 days for supplies but otherwise stay home. Pranburi is currently one of the safest places to be so I consider it a reasonable risk. 

 

The key words here are 'consider' and 'reasonable'. 

 

[riclag]

I hope kate and julie from reuters, never have to go for a root canal ,just the thought of having bleach put into their mouth might be a little to much for them!

 

"Aqueous sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solution is widely used in dental practice during root canal treatment. Although it is generally regarded as being very safe, potentially severe complications can occur when it comes into contact with soft tissue. This paper discusses the use of sodium hypochlorite in dental treatment, reviews the current literature regarding hypochlorite complications, and considers the appropriate management for a dental practitioner when faced with a potentially adverse incident with this agent".

https://www.endoexperience.com/documents/NaOCl-safeuseetcBritDentJ2007.pdf

 

I would like to see research testing derivatives  made from  bleach! Who knows maybe they can combine chemicals to make a solution ,could make it possible.

Anything possible ! Splinting atoms to cause a chain reaction for instance was thought impossible one time.

 

 

Edited April 27, 2020 by riclag

[stevenl]

5 minutes ago, riclag said:

I hope kate and julie from reuters, never have to go for a root canal ,just the thought of having bleach put into their mouth might be a little to much for them!

 

"Aqueous sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solution is widely used in dental practice during root canal treatment. Although it is generally regarded as being very safe, potentially severe complications can occur when it comes into contact with soft tissue. This paper discusses the use of sodium hypochlorite in dental treatment, reviews the current literature regarding hypochlorite complications, and considers the appropriate management for a dental practitioner when faced with a potentially adverse incident with this agent".

https://www.endoexperience.com/documents/NaOCl-safeuseetcBritDentJ2007.pdf

 

I would like to see research testing derivatives made from  bleach!

Anything possible!

 

 

Nonsensical to compare that to Trump's remarks.

[riclag]

4 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Nonsensical to compare that to Trump's remarks.

Thats your opinion . Anything is possible! Research was suggested by the POTUS ! Bleach or a solution of it is used in the body(mouth) to disinfect. 

Like I sourced above

Edited April 27, 2020 by riclag

[stevenl]

44 minutes ago, riclag said:

Thats your opinion . Anything is possible! Research was suggested by the POTUS ! Bleach or a solution of it is used in the body(mouth) to disinfect. 

Like I sourced above

So you really think a long established dental procedure where a little bit of bleach solution is used to disinfect a very small part of the body, and please avoid contact with soft tissue, is comparable with injecting it in your body to eliminate a novel virus.

 

The way people are willing to defend the indefensible keeps amazing me, but more and more I have come to realise they don't even realise it is indefensible.

[gargamon]

1 hour ago, riclag said:

Thats your opinion . Anything is possible! Research was suggested by the POTUS ! Bleach or a solution of it is used in the body(mouth) to disinfect. 

Like I sourced above

Putting disinfectants in the body, better known as embalming, is something I will wait for until after I'm dead, not something I would use to cause my death.

[brucec64]

20 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Sick people are unlikely to be going out for coffee. However, sick people still need to eat. If I get this I caught it from someone at the supermarket.

Asymptomatic people are likely to go for coffee and to the supermarket. If you catch this, it will most likely be from someone whom is asymptomatic. Limiting your contacts to essential trips reduces your overall risk. It's a numbers game, and every additional contact you make in a day increases the chances of you getting or spreading the virus.