Truth: Yes and no. Cloth face masks are being recommended by the CDC for anyone going out in public where social distancing is difficult – like the grocery store. However, they are only effective when used properly and in combination with proper hand-washing. It’s also important to know how to dispose of face masks properly to prevent the potential spread of the virus. For more information, visit the World Health Organization.

Truth: No. Drinking alcohol will not protect you against COVID-19. In fact, excessive drinking can be very dangerous and increase your risk of health problems. Limit your alcohol consumption to moderation or none to protect your immune system.

Truth: No. It is impossible for viruses to spread via radio waves or mobile networks. COVID-19 is spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, talks, or sneezes. The virus can also be spread by touching a contaminated surface then touching their face.

Truth: It’s uncertain right now. Right now, scientists and doctors are still learning about this virus and COVID-19 infections. “For one, it appears that some people who get COVID-19 may not develop antibodies to the virus. Additionally, there are still many other uncertainties related to the body’s immune response to this particular pathogen,” says U.S. News. Scientists and doctors expect more and more answers to these questions as time progresses.

Truth: Absolutely not. Just because you can hold your breath for more than 10 seconds without feeling discomfort or coughing does NOT mean you are not a carrier of the virus. Common symptoms include fever, dry cough, and fatigue while some people might have the virus and not show any symptoms at all. Do not try and trending “breathing techniques” – they can be dangerous. The only way the virus can be confirmed is with a laboratory test.

Truth: It’s still unknown. As of right now, this can’t be determined with any certainty since the coronavirus is so new to the medical world. At this current moment, it can’t be determined 100% conclusively.

Truth: COVID-19 can be transmitted in ALL areas regardless of climate or region. No matter what part of the world you are in, COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus, it does not matter if there is humidity and heat or not. Take extra precaution while traveling with frequent hand-washing and mask-wearing.

Truth: Not at all. COVID-19 can affect anyone regardless of race or ethnicity. Fear, anxiety, and misinformation around COVID-19 can cause prejudices against other cultures when it is simply just not true. The virus does not care about skin color or ethnic background.

Truth: No. As mentioned above, weather and climate do not have anything to do with killing the climate and it can be spread no matter where you are. A human’s body temperature remains around 98.6 regardless of the outside temperature. Wash your hands frequently to prevent the spread.

Truth: They can, however, symptoms tend to be less severe. All age groups are susceptible to catching the virus. Most cases have been in adults, however, children are not immune – their symptoms tend to be less severe.

Truth: No it cannot. According to the World Health Organization, taking a hot bath will not prevent you from catching COVID-19. Just like regardless of the weather, your body temperature generally stays the same – the same applies to a bath. In fact, taking too hot of a bath can be dangerous and cause burns.

Truth: No. Although there are rumors abound, the coronavirus emerged from natural causes and was not engineered in a lab. A detailed genomic examination of the virus was conducted by a scientific research team.

Truth: No it cannot. There has been no evidence thus far to suggest that coronavirus can spread through mosquito bites. Since it is a respiratory virus, it spreads primarily through droplets that are generated when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or speaks. Wash your hands frequently and wear a mask in public.

Truth: Not at all. “About 81% of people who are infected with the coronavirus have mild cases of COVID-19, according to a study published Feb. 18 by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. About 13.8% report severe illness, meaning they have shortness of breath, or require supplemental oxygen, and about 4.7% are critical, meaning they face respiratory failure, multi-organ failure or septic shock. The data thus far suggests that only around 2.3% of people infected with COVID-19 die from the virus,” says Live Science.

Truth: They do not. Hand dryers alone do not kill coronavirus. A proper scrub with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is needed to clean your hands.

Truth: Thermal scanners only detect fever, not the virus. These types of scanners that are used in airports and some other public settings will detect a fever, however, they will not detect asymptomatic carriers that are not displaying a fever.

Truth: No. The pneumococcal vaccine and Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib) vaccine will not protect against the coronavirus. This virus is entirely new and different than anything else and will require it’s own vaccine. These vaccines, however, are still recommended to prevent other respiratory illnesses.

Truth: No. “No. There is no evidence that regularly rinsing the nose with saline has protected people from infection with the new coronavirus. There is some limited evidence that regularly rinsing nose with saline can help people recover more quickly from the common cold. However, regularly rinsing the nose has not been shown to prevent respiratory infections,” says WHO.

Truth: All ages are susceptible. People of all ages can be infected by the virus. However, older people and those with certain pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or a compromised immune system) are at higher risk.

Truth: Not yet. As of right now, there is no medicine that can prevent or treat COVID-19. However, if hospital admittance is required, there are ways for the medical staff to help relieve symptoms and receive supportive care.

Myth: UV lamps should not be used to sterlize. The World Health Organization does not want people using UV lamps to sterlize their skin. It can cause serious irritation.

Truth: No it cannot. Once a virus has already entered your body, spraying alcohol or bleach topically will not have any effect. These substances can cause damage to your body’s mucous membranes, so be careful when using them to sterilize your home’s surfaces.

Truth: No. Although garlic is a great food with many health benefits, there has been no evidence to show that garlic will help prevent infection of the coronavirus. It never hurts to incorporate more garlic into your diet!

Truth: No they cannot. As mentioned earlier, at this current moment, there is no medicine to prevent or treat the virus. Most symptoms will go away on their own, however, if hospitalization is required, there are treatments to help ease symptoms to help you recover.

Truth: Absolutely not. There are dangerous trends out there that suggest drinking certain ‘Miracle Mineral Solutions’ can kill the coronavirus. That is simply not true. Gregory Poland, a virus expert and head of the Vaccine Research Group at the Mayo Clinic, told Healthline that drinking so-called “Miracle Mineral Solutions” won’t cure you of the coronavirus because the virus attacks “your respiratory cells, not your gastrointestinal system.”

Truth: There is no evidence to suggest this. So far, there have been cases of animals, including a Pomeranian, that tested positive for the virus. However, there is no evidence to suggest that a viral transmission can occur from our pets to us.

Truth: Probably not. COVID-19 causes a wide range of symptoms and can very from person to person. Some people may not show any symptoms at all. However, the most common symptoms are dry cough, fever, and difficulty breathing.

Truth: Evidence is saying otherwise. Although we’re still collecting data on the mortality rate of coronavirus, the evidence is showing that it is higher than the flu. Recent data suggests that COVID-19 has a mortality rate more than 20 times higher than the flu, of around 2.3%, according to a study published in February by the China CDC Weekly.

Truth: No. Although vitamin C serves an essential role in our body’s immune function, it will not render anyone immune to COVID-19. For many, it hardly helps to fight off the common cold.

Truth: Not true. “Yes, it is safe. People receiving packages from China are not at risk of contracting 2019-nCoV. From previous analysis, we know coronaviruses do not survive long on objects, such as letters or packages,” posted WHO on Facebook.

Truth: Absolutely not. By simply eating at or from a Chinese restaurant, there is no way you could contract the virus. This is a dangerous stereotype that needs to be ended immediately. By this same idiotic logic, you’d have to avoid Italian restaurants as well.

Truth: Highly unlikely but not entirely sure. “It isn’t a very pleasant thought, but every time you swallow, you swallow mucus from your upper respiratory tract. In fact, this is an important defensive mechanism. This sweeps viruses and bacteria down into our gut where they are denatured in the acid conditions of our stomachs,” said Prof. John Edmunds from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine in the U.K.

“With modern, very highly sensitive detection mechanisms, we can detect these viruses in feces. Usually, viruses we can detect in this way are not infectious to others, as they have been destroyed by our guts.”

Truth: No, it’s not. Although coronavirus has taken the lives of tens of thousands of people so far, it is not the deadliest virus known to man. The worst was the Black Death or Great Plague that killed more than 20 million people in the Middle Ages. And there have been others with much higher mortality rates.

Truth: Animals, yes. Bat soup, most likely not. This is another rumor that is most likely xenophobic. Studies of the virus have shown that it most likely did originate from a bat, however, the ‘bat soup’ rumor is just that – a rumor.

Truth: Unlikely. According to the CDC, “Based on information about this novel coronavirus thus far, it seems unlikely that COVID-19 can be transmitted through food – additional investigation is needed.”

Truth: Yes you can – and it’s encouraged. Right now, life-saving blood is needed now more than ever. If you are feeling well, the CDC encourages people to donate blood. The Red Cross is doing everything that can to ensure your safety during the process.

Truth: Not true. There is no evidence to suggest that contact lens wearers are more at risk for acquiring COVID-19. Proper sanitizing and hand-washing procedures should, of course, always be practiced – especially before touching your face.

Truth: Do not attempt this at home. “CDC does not encourage the production and use of homemade hand sanitizer products because of concerns over the correct use of the ingredients and the need to work under sterile conditions to make the product,” they state on their website. It’s best to use soap and water at home while scrubbing for at least 20 seconds.

Truth: This is a great time to adopt a pet! Nothing has suggested that coronavirus can be transmitted from shelter animal to human. In fact, a new fur baby is a great companion while you’re staying at home!