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COVID-19 Fact Checker

Here are some common myths about COVID-19 debunked. Hover over the boxes to read brief explanations about whether or not the statements are true, and click to read more.

Facial coverings protect the wearer from coronavirus.

Facial coverings are primarily recommended in order to stop the transmission of COVID-19 from individuals who may be asymptomatic or unaware that they’re infected.

COVID-19 was created in a lab and spread through 5G radio waves.

There is no scientific evidence to support the idea that COVID-19 was created in a lab or transmissible through 5G networks.

COVID-19 is believed to have originated from bats.

COVID-19 did originate in bats, although scientists are still uncertain how the disease was first transmitted to humans.

Applying or consuming bleach, disinfectant, or rubbing alcohol will protect you from COVID-19.

Disinfecting chemicals such as bleach and rubbing alcohol are not safe for human use and should never be applied to one’s body or ingested.

If you can hold your breath for 10 seconds, you don’t have COVID-19.

Holding your breath for 10 seconds is not a reliable method to test for COVID-19.

There is no 100% accurate method to test for COVID-19.

No diagnostic test will be 100% accurate due to performance characteristics, specimen handling, or user error.

Ibuprofen can worsen the symptoms of COVID-19.

There is no scientific evidence that proves ibuprofen worsens the symptoms of COVID-19.

COVID-19 disproportionately harms the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.

As the elderly and those with underlying health conditions have weaker immune systems, COVID-19 tends to, on average, affect these individuals far more severely than their young/healthy counterparts.

The virus can be transmitted through mosquito bites.

There is no scientific evidence proving that the virus can be transmitted through mosquito bites. COVID-19 primarily spreads from person to person through respiratory droplets that are created when an infected person coughs or sneezes within six feet of someone else.

Rinsing your nose with saline will protect you from the virus.

There are no FDA approved cures or ways to prevent the novel coronavirus from reaching your lungs once exposure to the virus has already occured.

Eating garlic will reduce your risk of getting the virus.

While garlic is known to have antiviral and antimicrobial properties, to say that it can prevent COVID-19 is not true. Garlic has only been shown to have effects on the common cold and HIV.

If you’ve had COVID-19 once, you cannot get it again.

There is no conclusive evidence that getting COVID-19 once precludes you from getting it again. Based on studies of the closely related SARS, antibodies will remain in the body for one to two years after recovery. However, this does not guarantee long-term immunity for recovered COVID-19 patients.

COVID-19 can affect youth differently than it affects the elderly.

Young COVID-19 patients often experience different symptoms than the elderly, including strokes. The elderly seem to be experiencing more atypical symptoms like cognitive impairment.

Wearing a medical mask will deprive your brain of oxygen.

Medical masks are designed to be worn snuggly around your face and will not hinder your breathing when worn properly. As long as you are breathing normally, your brain will be receiving enough oxygen.

The virus is predicted to retreat with the appearance of warmer weather.

Though it is possible, it is unlikely that COVID-19 will disappear as it gets warmer. This prediction is founded on data taken from the 2003 SARS outbreak, but fails to acknowledge the strict social distancing measures imposed on countries across East Asia which were more likely the cause of SARS dying in the summer.

COVID-19 can be eradicated by drinking alcohol.

Consuming alcohol will not eradicate the virus; in fact, its consumption has deleterious effects on the immune system and will likely increase the health risks if one is to be infected with the virus.

Leading epidemiologists can predict exactly how COVID-19 will spread.

FALSE

Though many epidemiologists have developed models to predict how COVID-19 will spread, there is no guarantee that these models will be 100% accurate.

Most people who get COVID-19 will recover.

Most people with COVID-19 have mild illnesses and are able to recover without medical care.

Hydroxychloroquine (a common antimalarial drug) cures/prevents COVID-19.

According to results from the Recovery trial, which has been testing seven therapies for COVID-19, hydroxychloroquine was proven ineffective.

Cats and dogs can contract COVID-19.

Though animals — including tigers, cats, and dogs — can contract COVID-19, the risk of animals spreading the virus to humans is very low.

COVID-19 is no more dangerous than the common flu.

Though COVID-19 can look similar to the common flu, as both can cause symptoms such as fever or body aches, not only do we lack important information about COVID-19, but COVID-19 also is 10 to 44 times more fatal than the seasonal flu.

Packages from China can spread COVID-19.

There is no evidence that there is spread resulting from infected packages or mail.

“COVID toes” are a result of contracting asymptomatic COVID-19.

There has been a surge in people with toe lesions or chillblains, and some dermatologists push for these lesions to be confirmed as another telltale symptom for COVID-19. However, research confirming this suspicion is still ongoing and it is difficult to conclude whether or not COVID toes are a real COVID-19-related phenomenon.

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