6 Fake Coronavirus Health Advices That Just Don’t Work

By Selena Thomas

Posted 4 years agoHEALTH

It has been now more than three months since the first outbreak of the novel Coronavirus occurred in China, and it seems that slowly but surely, we are putting together all pieces of the puzzle. Some parts are still missing, of course, like the vaccine or cure for the virus, but it is important that we are on the right track.
6 Fake Coronavirus Health Advices That Just Don't Work

Although it seems that so far, we already know all the main symptoms and prevention steps, there are still some rumors and tips that just do not work. Some of them will make you laugh, others will make you wonder, but what is in common is that none of them works, and you should not waste your time on them. Let’s check them out.

1. Eating Garlic

Yes, surprisingly, a vast number of online news and posts recommend eating loads of garlic to prevent COVID-19. Even the World Health Organization had to address those rumors by stating that eating garlic is healthy, but even though it has some antimicrobial properties, there is no proof that eating it makes us Coronavirus-proof.

What is good in this story is that eating garlic is great for your general health, so even if you tried this method, it won’t do you any harm.

2. Miracle Mineral Supplements

Miracle Mineral Supplements known as MMS have been around even before Coronavirus. But things got a whole new dimension when a famous Youtuber with thousands of followers promoted MMS, claiming that it could help us get rid of Coronavirus. Youtuber also claimed that it can kill cancer cells.

Now, the important part, MMS, contains chlorine dioxide, which is a bleaching agent, we do not have to mention how dangerous that could be. FDA even posted an official statement to inform the public that there is no scientific proof that this works. On the contrary, it can cause nausea, vomiting, dehydration, etc.

You can trust some natural ingredients which already exist in nature, such as curcuma or pine pollen, which have proven immune boosting qualities.

3. Drinkable Colloidal Silver

Colloidal silver has been around for a while, and people claim that it can treat various conditions, boost our immunity, and act as an antiseptic. And now, it is claimed that it can kill Coronavirus, although that has never been tested.

You have probably seen someone sharing this on Facebook, but keep in mind that there is no scientific evidence that this type of silver helps with any health condition. Silver is not beneficial for our systems such as zinc or iron; in fact, this type of silver can damage our kidneys and trigger other problems.

4. DIY Hand Sanitizers

There is a global shortage of disinfects, face masks, gloves, and hand sanitizers, which causes many people to try to be creative and reinvent these things from stuff they have at home. Since washing our hands with soap and water or hand sanitizers is one of the most effective ways to stay safe, many homemade recipes for hand sanitizers flooded the internet.

However, the majority of those homemade sanitizers were more suitable to be used on surfaces than on the skin. Hand gels that are recommended contain only 60-70% of alcohol and emollients, which is why they are more gentle for our skin. It is quite impossible to make such an effective product at home because even alcohol like vodka contains only 40% of alcohol.

5. Drink A Cup of Water Every 15 Minutes

The internet is full of weird things these days, but the idea that we can “flush out” the virus if we drink water every 15 minutes is silly, but at least it is not harmful like some others. It is impossible to flush down a respiratory virus and kill it by drinking water frequently.

Yes, Coronavirus can enter our system through our mouth, but drinking water is not going to kill it or flush it. Drinking enough water is healthy and recommended, but not necessarily every 15 minutes. And not any water, but preferably warm one with lemon. It won’t cure the disease but it’s one of the few methods to naturally boost your immune system during covid-19 pandemic.

6. Hair Dryers and Other Hot Topics

There are several versions of the same tip, but it all comes down to the statement that heat can kill the virus. So people tried everything, from taking hot baths, drinking hot water, and even using hairdryers. Someone even photoshopped these recommendations making it look like UNICEF is promoting them, which they later denied.

What we know with certainty is that other viruses such as flu cannot survive high temperatures, but that is seasonal flu that has been around for ages. COVID-19 is so new that we can only assume and hope that as the summer approaches, the virus will disappear. But that does not mean that hairdryers and hot water will do the same thing.

Rely Only on Reliable Sources of Information

As we have seen, there are a lot of weird recommendations and people who are trying to take advantage of the situation. Try to recognize what clickbait is, what is reasonable, and what is not. The best is to rely only on reliable sources such as CDC that post only things that are tested and proven. According to them, the best you can do to avoid getting Coronavirus is:

  • Wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds.
  • If you are using hand sanitizers, use only those that contain at least 60% of alcohol.
  • Do not touch your face, eyes, mouth, or nose before washing your hands.
  • Disinfect frequently used surfaces in your home, such as desks, doorknobs, keys, etc.
  • Stay at home and avoid close contact with other people.

What Works Against Coronavirus?

Unfortunately, we still do not have the answer to that question. But while scientists are working on the vaccine, there is a new generation of COVID-19 test kits that can tell the results faster than before. However, the incubation period is still too long, up to 14 days, that is why self-isolation is the best step you can take to protect yourself, avoid catching COVID-19 and spread it to others. We know that this situation may seem hopeless, but please do not try things that can do more harm than good.

Preparation of yourself and your environment are the keys. Read our BONUS TYIP on:

Low cost measures to prevent the spread Covid-19 in your workplace:

Employers should take the initiative to start doing these things even if the virus has not arrived in their communities.

  • Ensure that your workplace is entirely clean and hygiene.
  • Wiped the surfaces and objects with disinfectant on a daily basis, because these surfaces are frequently touched by customers and employees.
  • Promote proper hand-washing among employees, contractors and customers. 
  • You can do it by placing a hand sanitizing dispenser in main places. Ensure to refill dispensers on a regular basis.
  • Display motivational posters, promoting hand-washing.
  • Give full access to places where people in the workplace can wash their hands.

Hand-washing is the first step to stop the virus from getting into the workplace.

Endorse high-quality respiratory hygiene in the workplace.

  • You can promote it through posters or other means of communications such as information on intranet, offer guidance from health officials, explaining at meetings.
  • Face masks and paper tissues must be placed in the office for the people who have cough and runny nose; closed bins must be available to hygienically dispose of used tissues.

Before planning any business trip ask your contractors and employees to seek advice from a national trip advisor. Explain your employees and contractors if Covid-19 comes into their community, and they feel flu, cough or fever stay at home.

How to control coronavirus risk when managing meetings and conferences?

Employers must critically think about the risk of virus because:

  • The people who are coming to attend a meeting may bring the virus to the meeting and others can simply be exposed to it.

Before meeting you need to take proper measures:

  • Seek advice from the authorities in your community, when and where you want to have this meeting. 
  • You must think about whether a face to face meeting is necessary or you can go for a teleconference or an online event.
  • Fewer people can be allowed to attend the meeting.
  • Provide the sanitizers, tissues and surgical masks to employees before coming to the meeting hall.
  • After the meeting keep a record of all the employees for at least one month who attend the meeting.

About the author Selena Thomas

Selena Thomas is a content writer who loves sharing tips on healthy lifestyles. A writer by day and a reader by night, she's fond of writing articles that can help people in improving both physical and mental health. Also, she loves traveling and inspires people on her blogs.

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