12 examples of FAKE coronavirus medical advice that spread online
There has been no shortage of viral “copy and paste” posts doing the social media rounds purporting to offer medical advice concerning the coronavirus and resulting COVID-19 disease.
As the entire planet works to deal with one of the most widespread pandemics in its history, many social media users have engaged in a spot of reckless social media sharing. It has been the ultimate demonstration of why you should never, ever get medical advice from social media. Nor should you share medical advice on social media, unless it links directly to a reputable source (such as the CDC, WHO or NHS websites.)
Such social media “advice” can be dangerous. Either by directly promoting something that is dangerous, or by promoting time wasting nonsense that could lure someone into a false sense of security, resulting in them becoming complacent with their health.
We’ve compiled a quick top 12 of the most prolific fake or unsubstantiated examples of medical advice about coronavirus that we’ve encountered online.
Keeping your throat moist protects against coronavirus
Sure, drinking water is great. You should keep yourself hydrated. That’s great advice. What’s not great advice is telling people that keeping your throat moist will protect against coronavirus because it pushes all those pesky virus particles into your stomach. That’s bad advice, and it has come attached to a number of long-winded lists of “facts” that have done the social media rounds.
Gargling salty water protects against coronavirus
Staying with water and the throat, another claim that gargling salty water will protect you against coronavirus is also false. While some recommend it for less severe ailments such as a sore throat, gargling water – salty, warm or otherwise – isn’t going to protect you against a virus. Nor will gargling anti-septic, ice cold water or saline.
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Sunbathing will kill the virus
Viruses similar to coronavirus do often quell slightly in the summer months, but we’re not sure if that will be the case with the 2019 coronavirus yet. And even if that is the case, it’s very different from claiming that sunbathing will kill off the virus. There’s just no evidence whatsoever to suggest that is true, and if it were true, countries with hot climates would not have had substantial outbreaks of the virus, which of course we know they have (such as Italy and Spain.)
Hairdryers up your nose?
Perhaps one of the most bizarre, yet most prolific examples of frivolous medical advice came in the guise of an educational video about sticking hairdryers up your nose to kill the coronavirus because of its apparent aversion to heat. There is nothing to suggest this would have any significant effect whatsoever, and could actually result in people harming themselves.
Hot baths, steam rooms or spas can kill the coronavirus
This claim also came attached to the hair dryer claim above, and it’s also nonsense. Taking hot showers, baths or going to a steam room isn’t going to noticeably raise your body temperature to kill off the virus. In fact, taking this to the extreme is likely to only result in injury such as burns.
Drinking bleach
The potential consequences of trying this are so dangerous that it is certainly worth mentioning. The claim that drinking bleach can cure the coronavirus has been spreading in one form or another since early March, but doing so will almost certainly make a person fall seriously ill, or worse.
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Holding breath for ten seconds as a coronavirus test
Can you test if you have coronavirus by seeing if you can hold your breath for ten seconds? No. No test like that will prove remotely accurate. While shortness of breath is indeed a symptom of COVID-19, those who have COVID-19 (especially a mild form of it) will still be able to hold their breath for over ten seconds, and those who don’t have it (but have another health infliction) may not be able to.
Can you wear a medical mask both ways?
Can medical masks be worn either way depending on whether you’re protecting yourself or others around you? No. The vast majority of masks can only be worn one way. One side is liquid proof and intended to be worn on the outside (typically the coloured side) and the other side is liquid absorbing, intended to be used on the inside. 3ply masks also have a filter in between.
Lemons, hot water and bicarbonate can cure COVID-19?
Quite simply, it cannot. Again, some may use lemons and hot water for less serious ailments like the common cold or blocked nose, but this doesn’t mean it will be effective against a more serious virus that attacks the upper respiratory system.
Does a runny nose mean you don’t have coronavirus?
Again this claim has found itself attached to a number of long winded list of medical “facts”, and it isn’t accurate. While a runny nose isn’t a primary symptom of COVID-19, its presence alone isn’t sufficient to determine whether a patient has COVID-19 or not.
Garlic helps protect against coronavirus
Garlic, along with onions, is often the focus of many a folklore tale, so it was perhaps inevitable that it would also be peddled as a cure or preventative measure against COVID-19. Many claims circulated online suggesting garlic or boiled garlic water would help protect against coronavirus. Again, there is absolutely nothing to support those claims.
Young people are immune to coronavirus
Another dangerous claim states that young people cannot catch coronavirus. This hoax was one of the first to spread in the aftermath of the pandemic, and is simply untrue. While younger people do have a better chance of avoiding or recovering from the virus and often have milder symptoms, they can still catch it, spread it, and potentially fall seriously ill from it.
Remember, you can keep on top of our full coronavirus debunks (with links to our sources) on our website here.
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