by Alan Nemirovski and Evelyn Wisebourt Recently, a disease known as “coronavirus” has been taking over various news platforms, with many cases turning up worldwide. Although certain symptoms are known, this virus has only recently been discovered, leading to many misconceptions in the community. It is important to separate myth from fact, to ensure complete understanding of the disease, as well as any preventative measures that should be taken to avoid it. Let’s go ahead and dive into some of the most common misconceptions surrounding the COVID-19 virus.
Myth 1: "It is a single virus" The current coronavirus causing the epidemic is just one of the many viruses in the Coronavirus (CoV) family. These can range from the common cold to SARS, which caused an epidemic in the Toronto area back in 2003. The one causing the current epidemic is called COVID-19, or Novel Coronavirus. Myth 2: “It only kills the elderly, so the younger generation has nothing to worry about” Although most cases of coronavirus are apparent in senior citizens with prior medical concerns, there have been confirmed cases amongst young people. Medical workers are also prone to this disease, no matter their age, as they would have heightened chances of coming in contact with it. So, although less likely to contract the illness, youth should still be very aware of it, and should take all precautions described by professionals. Myth 3: “If I wear a mask, I won’t get coronavirus” As far as researchers know, the COVID-19 virus can be transferred through any type of contact- it is airborne. So, this means that you can still contract it through, for example, your eyes. In fact, small particles, commonly known as aerosols have the ability to penetrate the mask. Surely, if you are in close proximity to someone with the virus, you would decrease your chances of getting sick with a mask. However, realistically, it wouldn’t make much of a difference if you decide to wear one in public- it could be thought of as unnecessary. The WHO even recommends leaving the already scarce quantity of masks for health care professionals and those who show clear respiratory symptoms. Myth 4: “A vaccine will be developed in a few months” Thankfully, scientists have made rapid advances with the coronavirus. This is partially due to the early release of genetic sequences from Chinese researchers. However, although a vaccine may be developed in the near future, the actual use and implementation of it would be much farther away. This is mostly because of strict regulations surrounding the creation of a vaccine, as well as the multiple clinical trials which would need to take place before the use of the product. Researchers would need to ensure that there are no rare long-term side effects associated with the vaccination before releasing it into the public. So, all in all, the public would be lucky to have accessibility to the vaccine within the next year. Myth 5: "Canadians are at high risk of being infected" As of February 27th, 2020, there have been 13 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Canada, 6 in Ontario, and 7 in British Columbia. The Public Health Agency of Canada is constantly monitoring the health risk the COVID-19 virus poses to the public, and has currently concluded that risk to be low (as of February, 28th 2020). However, the situation may always change, and so you should always be aware of the virus’ risk to Canadians and the COVID-19 outbreak in Canada. For more information, and for current updates, please visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html Evidently, there are many misconceptions surrounding the idea of the coronavirus. However, it is important to consistently research this topic from reputable sources to ensure complete understanding of the disease. In a time of chaos and panic, it is vital that we maintain our calm, and act in a way that focuses on prevention and awareness. Leave the treatment to the medical professionals. And finally, make sure that you are aware of the current status and situation of COVID-19. More updates to come, as we continue to follow news of the outbreak. For more information and detailed updates on the situation of COVID-19 worldwide, please visit: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 For more debunked myths, please visit: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters
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