Myths and Facts About COVID-19

There’s a lot of bad information out there about COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. Some of it may come from people who mean well. But to stay healthy, you want to follow good advice from reliable sources.

Here are some good things to know about COVID-19.

Fact: One of the best ways to protect yourself is to keep your hands clean.

Washing your hands with soap and water will get rid of viruses that may be on your hands. Washing often can help you avoid being infected if you touch your eyes, mouth or nose. Soap and water work best, but a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can work too.

Fact: People of all ages can get COVID-19.

Anyone can get very sick with this virus. Older people and those with certain health conditions may be more likely to have severe symptoms. But younger people can get sick themselves or pass the virus on to someone who gets very ill.

Myth: You can kill the virus by using an ultraviolet (UV) lamp.

UV lamps should not be used to clean your hands or other areas of the skin. UV light can cause skin irritation.

Myth: Spraying alcohol or chlorine on your body can kill the virus.

Not true. Spraying alcohol or chlorine on yourself will not kill viruses that are already in your body. (Neither will drinking alcohol.) And using it on your skin could harm sensitive areas, like your eyes or mouth. But alcohol and chlorine can be useful to disinfect surfaces like kitchen counters and doorknobs.

Fact: The virus may not cause symptoms right away.

It can take anywhere from 2 to 14 days before people who are infected become sick and develop symptoms like a fever, cough or shortness of breath.

Fact: Vaccines for pneumonia and the flu won’t protect you from COVID-19.

It’s true that these vaccines don’t protect against COVID-19. But they are important for other reasons. Almost everyone 6 months and older needs a flu shot every year. Kids under 2 years, adults over 65, people who smoke and people with certain medical conditions also need the pneumococcal vaccine.

Researchers are trying to develop a vaccine against COVID-19 right now.

Myth: Antibiotics will work against COVID-19.

Antibiotics can’t fight viruses, like COVID-19. They only work against bacteria. If you’re hospitalized with COVID-19, however, you might be given antibiotics to help you avoid certain kinds of pneumonia.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; World Health Organization