COVID-19
With COVID-19 continuing to spread, separating fact from fiction can keep you informed and better protected. Here are our top myths and facts about the coronavirus disease.
There is no current evidence to suggest that COVID-19 can be transmitted by mosquitos. The primary form of transmission is through droplets generated when infected people cough, sneeze or talk, or through droplets of discharge from the nose.
To prevent the spread of the illness, frequently wash hands thoroughly and avoid close contact with anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
Learn the symptoms of COVID-19
Evidence shows that COVID-19 can be transmitted in all areas, including those with hotter climates. Regardless of weather, it is important to protect against COVID-19 and take all precautionary methods to reduce the spread of the disease.
This is no evidence to suggest that pneumonia and flu vaccines can prevent the coronavirus. Because the virus is new and different from influenza, pneumonia, and other respiratory infections, it requires a new vaccine. Researchers at Rochester Regional Health are in the process of developing a vaccine.
Spraying alcohol or chlorine on your body will not kill viruses that have already entered your body. Spraying these substances can harm the eyes, moth, skin, and clothes. Both alcohol and chlorine are effective in disinfecting surfaces, but they need to be used properly and should not be used on the body.
The coronavirus disease does not target any specific race more than another. For example, being of Asian, African-American, or Latin American descent does not increase the chance of getting or spreading COVID-19 based on race or ethnicity alone.
The CDC reports that all communities should prepare for the possibility that COVID-19 will continue to spread into the winter and 2021. Person-to-person contact is the most common way to spread the virus, so avoiding close contact with others is good practice.
Washing your hands as frequently as possible with soap and water for at least 20 seconds can help reduce risk of getting and spreading COVID-19. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth and stay home if you feel sick. Covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and immediately throwing away that tissue will help reduce spread of the virus, as will wearing a mask in public at all times.
Older adults and all demographics with underlying health conditions or compromised immune systems are at a greater risk of developing a severe illness from COVID-19. However, the risk of this occurring within the general population is low. It is still important to take precautionary methods to protect against the virus, regardless of age or health condition, to protect our most vulnerable population.
Antibiotics do not work against viruses, only bacterial infections. Since COVID-19 is a virus, antibiotics should not be used to prevent or treat the illness.
