Doctor Debunks Ten Coronavirus Myths

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mattstaff
Mar 18, 2020 3:00 PM EDT

Faheem Younus, is the Chief Quality Officer and Chief of Infectious Diseases at University of Maryland (UCH). He shared a Twitter thread that aims to debunk 10 common myths surrounding the Coronavirus. Hopefully, folks catch wind of this information and work to spread it to others that might be caught up in the otherwise disorienting whirlwind of misinformation. If you're looking for more information about the Coronavirus, check the CDC for regular updates. 

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  • 01
    Text - Separating facts and fiction started from this tweet Faheem Younus, MD @FaheemYounus So I'm hearing many myths about #COVID-19 and would like to quickly clear the record. Coronavirus will go away in Sumer months. Wrong. Previous pandemics didn't follow weather patterns plus as we enter summer, there will be winter in the Southern Hemisphere. Virus is global. O137K 12:06 AM - Mar 17, 2020
    via @FaheemYounus
  • 02
    Text - Faheem Younus, MD @FaheemYounus Replying to @FaheemYounus Myth #2: In summer, the virus will spread more due to mosquito bites. Wrong. This infection is spread via respiratory droplets, not blood. Mosquitos don't increase spread. O17.3K 12:08 AM - Mar 17, 2020
    via @FaheemYounus
  • 03
    Text - Faheem Younus, MD @FaheemYounus Replying to @FaheemYounus Myth #3: If you can hold your breath for ten seconds without discomfort, you don't have COVID. Wrong: Most young patients with Coronavirus will be able to hold their breaths for much longer than 10 seconds. And many elderly without the virus won't be able to do it. O17.4K 12:11 AM Mar 17, 2020
    via @FaheemYounus
  • 04
    Text - Faheem Younus, MD @FaheemYounus Replying to @FaheemYounus Myth #4: Since COVID testing is unavailable, we should donate blood. The blood bank will test for it. No blood bank is testing for Coronavirus so this attempt will fail. Blood donation is a sacred exercise; let's make sure we are motivated by the right reasons. O16.8K 12:31 AM - Mar 17, 2020
    via @FaheemYounus
  • 05
    Text - Faheem Younus, MD @FaheemYounus Replying to @FaheemYounus Myth #5: Coronavirus lives in the throat. So drink lots of water so the virus is pushed into the stomach where the acid will kill it. Virus may gain entry via throat but it penetrates into the host cells. You can't wash it away. Excessive water will make you run to the toilet. O 18.7K 12:31 AM - Mar 17, 2020
    via @FaheemYounus
  • 06
    Text - Faheem Younus, MD @FaheemYounus Replying to @FaheemYounus Myth #6: All this social distancing is an over reaction. You'll see that the virus won't cause much damage. If we don't see many infections (I hope) it actually will prove that social distancing worked. Not that the virus was never a big deal. 22.4K 12:31 AM - Mar 17, 2020
    via @FaheemYounus
  • 07
    Text - Faheem Younus, MD @FaheemYounus Replying to @FaheemYounus Myth #7: Car accidents kill 30,000 people annually. What's the big deal with COVID-19? Car accident are not contagious, their fatalities don't double every three days, they don't cause mass panic or a market crash. O 28.1K 12:31 AM - Mar 17, 2020
    via @FaheemYounus
  • 08
    Text - Faheem Younus, MD @FaheemYounus Replying to @FaheemYounus Myth #8: Hand sanitizers are better than soap and water. Wrong. Soap and water actually kills and washes away the virus from skin (it can not penetrate our skin cells) plus it also cleans visible soiling if hands. Don't worry if Purrell was sold out at your supermarket. O 19.7K 12:31 AM - Mar 17, 2020
    via @FaheemYounus
  • 09
    Text - Faheem Younus, MD @FaheemYounus Replying to @FaheemYounus Myth #9: One of the best strategies to prevent COVID-19 is to clean every door knob in your home with disinfectants. Wrong. Hand washing/maintaining 6ft distance is best practice. Unless you're caring for a COVID patient at home, your home surfaces should not be a big risk. O 15.8K 12:31 AM - Mar 17, 2020
    via @FaheemYounus
  • 10
    Text - Faheem Younus, MD @FaheemYounus Replying to @FaheemYounus Myth #10: COVID-19 was deliberately spread by (depending upon your politics) the American or Chinese military. Really??? O 16.9K 12:34 AM - Mar 17, 2020
    via @FaheemYounus
  • 11
    Text - Faheem Younus, MD @FaheemYounus Replying to @FaheemYounus That's it folks. Be well. Be kind. Have faith. See you on the other side. This too shall pass. O 24K 12:34 AM - Mar 17, 2020 3,460 people are talking about this Image credits: FaheemYounus It's no secret that deceptive messages spread faster. But it turns out that multiple strains of fake news wear people down. Researchers believe that “the more times a person is exposed to a piece of fake news, the more likely they are to become p
    via @FaheemYounus

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