Widespread coronavirus misconceptions and the science it’s good to know

Mis- or disinformation has led to individuals harming themselves primarily based on falsehoods, self-medicating with poisonous chemical compounds or harmful drugs and never taking the precautions that they need to be taking, Tedros stated. It has additionally impacted our belief in establishments and well being techniques, which might end in individuals turning their backs on new therapies and vaccines if they do not believe in them.

Listed below are a few of the widespread myths and misconceptions floating round, and the state of the science as we perceive it to this point.

False impression No. 1: Solely older persons are impacted by the virus

At a rally on Monday, President Trump stated, “It impacts aged individuals. Aged individuals with coronary heart issues and different issues, in the event that they produce other issues. That is what it actually impacts. That is it. You recognize, in some states hundreds of individuals — no person younger. Under the age of 18, like, no person.”

The very fact is individuals of all ages have been impacted by the virus. Whereas older persons are more likely to get very sick with Covid-19, or die in the event that they’re contaminated, youthful persons are certainly not immune.

Older individuals could also be extra inclined as a result of they’ve extra pre-existing circumstances (referred to as comorbidities) that make a coronavirus an infection worse, or their immune techniques could also be weakened by age.

Some younger individuals even have comorbidities that put them at higher threat of getting very sick. And in some kids, the virus could cause their immune system to overreact, creating irritation and unleashing a cascade of chemical reactions generally known as a cytokine storm, which wreaks havoc throughout the physique. It is a situation referred to as multi-system inflammatory syndrome in kids, generally known as MIS-C.

False impression No. 2: Masks do not defend you towards coronavirus

This one is probably essentially the most contentious and politicized false impression of all. Early within the pandemic, we had been advised masks weren’t vital for these of us who weren’t coming into common, shut contact with sick individuals. Plus, due to shortages that proceed to today, we had been requested to avoid wasting the N-95 masks for frontline staff.

However masks turned a should after we started to know two crucial info. The primary is that folks can unfold the virus even when they haven’t any signs. And the second is that the virus very possible spreads via the air, in small virus-containing droplets referred to as aerosols, and never solely by an individual coming into contact with an contaminated floor or giant respiratory droplets.

Infectious illness knowledgeable Dr. Anthony Fauci addressed the reversal of the steering on face masks through the CITIZEN by CNN convention on Tuesday. “One of many issues that the general public wants to know is that that is an evolving scenario,” he stated.

“We weren’t conscious that 40% to 45% of individuals had been asymptomatic, nor had been we conscious {that a} substantial proportion of people that get contaminated get contaminated from people who find themselves with out signs. That makes it overwhelmingly vital for everybody to put on a masks,” he stated, noting that “the info now are very, very clear.”

How do masks work? Masks defend different individuals towards the mask-wearer’s virus-containing droplets which can be expelled into the air by way of respiration, sneezing, coughing, singing or shouting.

Some research have discovered that masks can scale back the quantity of droplets that an individual breathes into the air by as much as 90%. And one examine discovered that masks scale back the transmission of respiratory viruses by as a lot as 56% p.c.

False impression No. 3: You possibly can solely catch Covid-19 in case you’ve been in shut contact with somebody who has signs

“The attention-grabbing factor about that’s it does not change something that we have been saying,” stated Fauci throughout Tuesday’s convention. “It means put on your masks, it means keep away from shut contact, it means keep away from crowds.”

Fauci additionally reiterated, “Outside is healthier than indoors, as a result of if in case you have aerosol indoors, you’ll be able to have some recirculation.”

False impression No. 4: That is just like the flu

The President has insisted, “That is the flu, this is sort of a flu.”

However it is not, actually. It is true that each Covid-19 and the flu are attributable to respiratory viruses and should share some comparable signs together with fever, fatigue and cough. And in each instances, some individuals have milder signs than others.

In accordance with the CDC, “These deaths might symbolize misclassified COVID-19 deaths, or probably could possibly be not directly associated to the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., deaths from different causes occurring within the context of well being care shortages or overburdened well being care techniques).”

False impression No. 5: Everybody can a get a vaccine this winter

There’s been loads of hypothesis round once we could have a vaccine, with some optimistic projections as early as October. A number of of the builders anticipate having information to share this fall.

However Fauci and different public well being leaders have stated that it’s extremely unlikely a vaccine will likely be accessible by Election Day. And the US Meals and Drug Administration is contemplating new guidelines for authorization for a Covid-19 vaccine, in response to three sources conversant in the scenario, and calculations present these guidelines would push an authorization past Election Day.

That might sprint the hopes of President Trump, who has stated repeatedly the vaccine could possibly be prepared by November 3.

“If it is proven efficacious in November or in December, we do not have sufficient vaccine doses. We might have a number of million in November and perhaps 10, 20 million of every in December. That will likely be sufficient to … begin vaccinating sure populations however not the entire inhabitants,” Dr. Moncef Slaoui advised me. Slaoui is head of Operation Warp Velocity, the federal government’s vaccine initiative.

Slaoui — who famous that it isn’t even a on condition that any vaccine will likely be efficient sufficient as a result of the info aren’t in — stated sure teams, comparable to well being care staff and people who find themselves weak to the illness, could be prioritized. “For the remainder of us, it’s wanting extra like mid-2021,” he stated, a timeline additionally put ahead by Fauci.

Slaoui additionally circled again to what Fauci and others have been stressing. “Let’s keep centered on what science tells to assist us overcome this. I am excited as anybody about getting a vaccine — however within the meantime there are easy and efficient issues we are able to do ourselves: wash our fingers, keep away from giant gatherings and put on a masks.”