20/03/2020
MEDICAL OBSERVER OPINION
9 coronavirus myths busted by experts
Dr Trent Yarwood
Dr Trent Yarwood
Dr Yarwood is an infectious diseases physician from James Cook University, Townsville, and a senior lecturer at the University of Queensland,
Four public health and infectious disease experts were called upon to answer common myths surrounding the coronavirus.
They are Dr Trent Yarwood, an infectious diseases physician from James Cook University, Townsville, and the University of Queensland, Brisbane; Associate Professor Ben Harris-Roxas, from UNSW Sydney; Daniel Reeders, a PhD candidate at the ANU School of Regulation and Global Governance, Canberra; and Kathryn Snow, a PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne.
Here are their responses to nine coronavirus concerns.
1. Is herd immunity a good strategy?
Herd immunity is not part of the Australian strategy for controlling the outbreak.
On social media, there are many people calling for stronger and faster government responses, including 'shutting everything down'. There is a particular demand for school closures, which are not currently on the cards in Australia.
Some have claimed the Australian Government has plans to rely on 'herd immunity' to control the outbreak. That’s not the case.
The decision not to close schools is based on data from China, which show that there’s no sign of children and young people playing a role in 'chains' of transmission.
In addition, closing schools, without making similar arrangements for working parents, might lead to children being looked after by grandparents, who we need to protect at all costs from exposure to the virus.
Also, this could have a major impact on the health workforce, many of whom have school-aged children.
The development of immunity is an important question for the long-term management of COVID-19.
Eventually, many people who contract the virus will become immune and this will help control its spread. This is not a part of the Australian Government’s strategy, and the UK Government has clarified that it is not its policy either.
Clinical experience suggests people with mild illness may develop immunity around 7-10 days after the onset of symptoms.
Immunity is measured by monitoring the immune cells that fight the virus. As these cells showed up, the virus was no longer found in nasal swabs, suggesting immunity may also reduce infectiousness.
Read more from AusDoc: Herd immunity strategy could be 'catastrophic'
2. Can drinking a lot of water, gargling with warm water and salt or vinegar eliminate the virus? What about drinking lemon in hot water, or other home remedies?
That is a myth. Many people have asked what they can do to “boost their immune system” and there’s no shortage of quacks and scam artists happy to answer that question.
Hot drinks with lemon and honey, vitamin supplements, foods with garlic and ginger, apple cider vinegar, gargling with salt water ... none of these things has any impact on your immune response and won’t eliminate the virus.
But if they make you feel calmer and healthier, they can’t hurt. (Except putting vinegar in your nose — that’s not a good time.)
Other myths include that the virus can’t survive above 27 degrees Celcius. We can tell this is wrong with a moment’s thought, since it can function in our bodies at 37.5C.
Some have claimed that drinking various beverages will help 'flush out' the virus, but the virus does its work inside cells. Again, though, hot water with lemon will help you stay hydrated, so it won’t hurt.
Read more from AusDoc: Alternative medicines spruiked for coronavirus 'protection'
3. Do blood pressure medicines worsen the illness?
That is another myth. Nobody should stop taking any medication unless advised to by their doctor.
There was recent speculation that some blood pressure medications that target a protein called ACE2 might worsen the course of infection because the virus also targets that protein.
In response, the European Society of Cardiologists had issued a strongly worded statement saying there’s no evidence to support these concerns, and potential for serious harm if people stop taking their blood pressure medication.
Read more from AusDoc: Scare on antihypertensives and COVID-19 slapped down
4. What about non-steroidal anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen?
The WHO has urged people who suspect they have COVID-19 to take paracetamol, not ibuprofen.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen also attach to this protein.
In France, some doctors noted that a number of patients who were admitted to ICU had been taking these drugs. It is not clear whether these patients had other conditions that put them at higher risk of being admitted to ICU, or if the NSAIDs were the only risk factor.
This is hotly debated and we can expect to hear more about it.
Read more from AusDoc: What gets contaminated in COVID-19 isolation rooms?
5. Can the virus stay living on surfaces for nine days?
We don’t have data on COVID-19, although research on this is likely already happening.
A review of studies looking at similar viruses like SARS and MERS found viral particles can last for some time on surfaces — potentially up to nine days.
It depends on a number of factors, such as the type of material, the temperature and humidity, and perhaps even how much of the virus was deposited.
Alcohol-based products were found to be effective at removing virus from surfaces. Wiping down surfaces, washing your hands, and avoiding touching your face remain the best things you can do.
Read more from AusDoc: New coronavirus remains in the air for hours, on surfaces for days: study
6. Is hand sanitiser not as effective as soap and water?
A science-y fun fact has been circulating on Twitter, saying soap is better than alcohol at disrupting the lipid layer that surrounds viral particles.
In fact, both soap and alcohol break virus particles apart, but in different ways. Hand washing also works because it washes viral particles off our hands.
Whether you use alcohol or soap isn’t really important — making sure you wash your hand often and thoroughly definitely is.
7. Is Australia the next Italy?
Unlikely. Vivid stories have been circulating about the heartbreaking situation in parts of northern Italy.
However, the lack of testing in Italy makes it hard to know if their outbreak of COVID-19 will be comparable to our own.
Australia introduced protective measures much earlier than Italy, including travel deferrals and quarantine for Australians exposed to the virus on cruise ships. It is vital for epidemic control to be based on the facts about our own epidemic.
There is no doubt the COVID-19 outbreak is going to stretch our health system to its limits — but we do not have good reason to fear it will be as bad as stories coming out of Italy.
Read more from AusDoc: 'They’re deciding who to intubate and who to let die': Italian doctors
8. Does COVID-19 only kill sick people and the elderly?
Based on the experience in China and Italy, experts have challenged the belief that severe illness and mortality only affect older people and people with other serious illnesses. Older people are at the highest risk of serious illness, but the risk to younger people is not zero.
At any rate, people in older age groups are valued and very important members of our community, and nobody sees them as expendable.
We can all protect them by following prevention advice and self-isolating if we have any reason to believe we may have been exposed.
Read more from The Conversation:
Coronavirus weekly: expert analysis from The Conversation global network
Why are older people more at risk of coronavirus? The Conversation
9. Can coronavirus spread through food?
That depends on if someone coughs on your food, or shares your spoon.
Coronavirus spreads via droplet transmission. When someone coughs or sneezes without a mask, droplets of saliva and mucus can fall within a metre or two of the sick person.
Most transmission occurs when these droplets make their way into your mouth, nose or eyes. That’s why hand hygiene and avoiding touching your face are so important.
If you are near someone with coronavirus and they cough over your food, it could potentially make you sick. Sharing cutlery or glasses with people with coronavirus could pass on the infection.
