Coronavirus: Everything Known to Date and What You Shouldn’t Believe

2019-nCoV was the preliminary name for the coronavirus.

As of today, its official name is SARS-CoV-2. The disease caused by this virus is called COVID-19 (“coronavirus disease 2019”).

Let’s go through the common misconceptions you may have heard about the coronavirus. Most of these mistakes stem from a lack of knowledge about the subject, a tendency to speculate about things people know little about, and the belief that someone is always trying to deceive everyone for some mysterious benefit. Use your head. That’s what it’s there for, not just to put food into it.

Misconception No. 1

The coronavirus has a low mortality rate.

As of the beginning of March 2020, the mortality rate of the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was estimated at around 2%.

Whether 2% is a lot or not is debatable. What is clear, however, is that this is at least an order of magnitude higher than the mortality rate of influenza, which COVID-19 is often compared with. According to statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average case fatality rate of seasonal influenza is no more than 0.13% even in the most severe flu seasons. 2% is 15 times higher.

And that is not all. The mortality rate cited by WHO representatives is most likely inaccurate. It is calculated by dividing the number of deaths by the total number of confirmed cases as of a particular date.

The problem is that SARS-CoV-2 has a long incubation period, averaging 14 days and potentially lasting up to 27 days after infection. The illness itself can also last a long time. For example, the average interval between the onset of symptoms and hospitalization is 10.5 days.

Conclusion: The mortality rate of COVID-19 can only be determined accurately after the epidemic has ended and the total number of cases and deaths is known.

Earlier estimates are essentially educated guesswork. That may be acceptable for the general public and for various “experts” assessing the economic impact of an epidemic. But when doctors make such premature estimates, it is a disgrace.

Misconception No. 2

The coronavirus is no more dangerous than the flu.

This conclusion is often reached by people who are not specialists, or by doctors who did not study very well. They base it solely on the fact that COVID-19 resembles an ordinary viral respiratory infection in many people. But “many” does not mean “everyone.”

It is already clear that the new disease generally lasts much longer than influenza and can often be severe enough to require hospitalization, intensive care, or even admission to an ICU. The proportion of severe cases requiring intensive care can reach 32% of all cases.

In short, COVID-19 should be taken very seriously. Saying that it is “just like the flu” is merely a comforting illusion that incompetent specialists try to present as reality.

Misconception No. 3

Only elderly people in poor health die from coronavirus infection.

In reality, people of absolutely all ages can become infected, including children and young adults.

Almost half of those diagnosed with COVID-19 are under 49 years old.

Misconception No. 4

Simply being in the same room as an infected person is enough to become infected.

SARS-CoV-2 is a respiratory virus. This means that it is transmitted primarily through respiratory droplets, that is, by inhaling droplets released from an infected person’s nose or mouth when they sneeze or cough.

Such an infection cannot travel through the air over long distances. This is because the droplets containing the virus are relatively heavy and quickly settle onto surfaces.

Therefore, infection is mainly possible through close contact, typically when you are within about 2 meters of an infected person.

Being on the same airplane, riding in the same subway carriage, working in the same office, or walking along the same street as an infected person is relatively safe, provided you do not get extremely close to them.

Misconception No. 5

The virus cannot be transmitted through objects.

It can. However, this is a less common route of infection.

You can become infected with coronavirus by touching a contaminated surface and then using that same unwashed hand to touch your lips, nose, or eyes, essentially allowing the virus to reach your mucous membranes.

This route of infection is less common than respiratory transmission. Nevertheless, it still poses a risk.

Paper banknotes and coins are considered particularly concerning because they constantly pass from hand to hand. This is why Chinese authorities introduced strict requirements for disinfecting money. Banks were required to treat banknotes with ultraviolet radiation or high temperatures and then store the disinfected currency in a dry place for 14 days.

Postal packages, such as those from AliExpress, were considered safe at the time.

In short, most of the known close relatives of SARS-CoV-2, once deposited on surfaces such as paper, metal, glass, or plastic, remain viable for anywhere from several days to several hours. How long the new coronavirus can remain viable was unknown at the time. However, the presumed maximum period was no more than 9 days. AliExpress packages generally take longer to arrive.

Misconception No. 6

The virus spreads only through the air and via objects.

Not only that. SARS-CoV-2 was also suspected of being transmissible through fecal matter, including potentially through sewage systems.

Scientists considered this possible route of transmission after some patients were found to have not only respiratory symptoms but also gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea.

Therefore, you should be especially careful when touching door handles in public restrooms. And washing your hands after using the toilet is absolutely essential.

Misconception No. 7

The new coronavirus can be transmitted by mosquitoes.

The routes of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 are not yet fully understood.

Nevertheless, there is currently no evidence that the infection can be transmitted by insects.

Misconception No. 8

You can catch coronavirus from domestic animals.

There is no evidence of this either.

However, WHO still recommends washing your hands with warm water and soap after contact with animals. This can help protect against bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella.

Misconception No. 9

Breathing cold air can help you recover.

According to WHO, breathing cold air will not help.

The body temperature of a healthy person remains within the range of 36.5–37°C regardless of the ambient temperature. This is sufficient for the virus to continue reproducing in the body.

Misconception No. 10

Garlic can boost immunity and protect against coronavirus.

According to some data, garlic may indeed support immune function and reduce the risk of certain viral respiratory infections. However, at the time there was no scientific evidence that it could protect against COVID-19.

Misconception No. 11

Quartz treatment and spraying liquids containing alcohol or chlorine will destroy the virus.

This is debatable.

In some circumstances, such measures may not only be ineffective but could also be harmful. Alcohol and chlorine can be effective disinfectants for surfaces. They can be used to wipe down door handles, dishes, and commonly used objects, provided that appropriate safety precautions are followed.

Misconception No. 12

You need to rinse your nose to avoid infection.

At the time, there was no scientific evidence that regularly rinsing the nose with saline solution could protect against SARS-CoV-2.

Nevertheless, doing so as a preventive measure against ordinary viral respiratory infections is not necessarily a bad idea.

Misconception No. 13

You need to take antiviral drugs to protect yourself from coronavirus.

There is no guarantee that they will help.

At the time, there were no medications specifically approved for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19.

Misconception No. 14

A pneumonia vaccine can protect against coronavirus complications.

SARS-CoV-2 does indeed attack the lungs. Nevertheless, WHO stated that vaccines against pneumonia, such as the pneumococcal vaccine or the vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), cannot prevent complications caused by the new coronavirus.

SARS-CoV-2 is fundamentally different from previously known infections and requires a specific vaccine. At the time, development of such a vaccine had only just begun.

Misconception No. 15

Wearing a medical mask is enough to prevent infection.

A mask is only an additional protective measure. It is ineffective if other precautions are ignored.

Here is what you should do to genuinely reduce the risk of infection and prevent the further spread of the disease:

• Avoid contact with people who are sick, especially those who are coughing, sneezing, or have a fever.

• If you are feeling unwell, even if it is just an ordinary cold, stay at home.

• If you sneeze or cough, try to cover your mouth with a tissue or at least with your elbow. This is important for reducing the risk of respiratory transmission. Throw used tissues into a waste bin.

• Break the habit of touching your mouth, nose, or eyes with your hands.

• Wash your hands frequently with warm water and soap. Spend at least 15–20 seconds doing so.

• Carry a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. Use it when soap and water are unavailable.

• Regularly clean objects and surfaces that are frequently touched by many people, such as door handles, keyboards, landline telephone receivers, and so on. Use ordinary household cleaning products for disinfection, including alcohol- or chlorine-based products, or alcohol wipes.

Misconception No. 16

You can diagnose coronavirus infection yourself.

You cannot.

COVID-19 has no specific symptoms that allow it to be reliably distinguished from a common cold or influenza. The symptoms can be similar: fever, general weakness, headache, cough, nasal congestion, and difficulty breathing.

Normally, people with such symptoms should contact their primary care doctor, that is, their local clinic.

However, if you or someone you have been in close contact with has returned from China, Iran, or Italy within the previous two weeks, similar symptoms should be considered a reason to call an ambulance. Pay close attention to your own health and that of your loved ones.

COVID-19 can only be confirmed or ruled out through laboratory testing. A blood test and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to detect the RNA of 2019-nCoV are required. Until the results are available, patients should be placed in specially isolated rooms.

If coronavirus infection is not confirmed, the patient can be sent home.

Attention! The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continued to describe the situation with the virus as rapidly evolving and difficult to predict. This meant that information about the infection was being updated almost every day, while the world was effectively approaching the threshold of a pandemic.