When it comes to COVID-19, there’s no shortage of information and disinformation online.
On one hand, it’s true that symptoms owing to the virus were first reported in Wuhan, China. It’s also true that the virus is rapidly spreading throughout the globe, and that the global fatality rate is around 3.4 percent of the reported cases as of this writing.
On the other hand, you’ll also come across plenty of myths about the coronavirus, ranging from the outright racist (“People of Chinese/Asian descent are more likely to be carriers of the coronavirus”) to the downright dangerous (“Drinking bleach can protect you from getting infected.”).
So what’s true about the coronavirus, and what isn’t? As of this writing, here are some of the confirmed facts about COVID-19.
What is the coronavirus?
“Coronavirus” is actually a general term for viruses that cause respiratory illnesses as mild as the common cold, or as severe as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). The strain of coronavirus currently spreading around the world is known as the novel coronavirus (nCoV) or COVID-19.
What are the symptoms of nCoV or COVID-19 infection?
Some common symptoms of COVID-19 infection include fever, cough and shortness of breath. These symptoms appear between 2 to 14 days after exposure.
Where does the novel coronavirus come from?
Like all coronaviruses, COVID-19 is zoonotic — meaning it’s transmitted from animals to people. COVID-19 can also be transmitted by contact with infected persons and contaminated objects/surfaces, or by travel to areas with sustained (ongoing) transmission such as China, Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea.
Is there a cure for the novel coronavirus?
Although there is no definitive cure for COVID-19 as of this writing, there are ways to protect yourself against (or, at least, minimize your chances of) contracting the coronavirus.
How to Stay Safe From the Coronavirus
1. Wash your hands regularly.
One of the best ways to avoid COVID-19 infection is having good personal hygiene. Experts recommend washing your hands for at least 20 seconds — the equivalent of singing “Happy birthday” twice.
Make sure you wash under running water, since stagnant water may be unsanitary. Also, make sure your hands are thoroughly clean (i.e., the areas between your fingers, your thumb and the back of your hand should be washed as well).
2. Load up on immunity-boosting foods.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): “Preliminary data suggest that… persons with underlying health conditions or compromised immune systems might be at greater risk for severe illness from [the coronavirus].”
Fortunately, foods that boost the immune system include kitchen staples such as garlic and ginger. You may also consume echinacea, astragalus, yin chiao, elderberry, andrographis, medicinal mushrooms, and others recommended by a herbalist.
Of course, the above shouldn’t be consumed in isolation. It’s also important to eat a balanced diet that includes chicken broth and foods rich in Vitamin C.
3. Get a good night’s sleep.
Getting enough shut-eye is also a good way to boost your body’s chances of fighting the coronavirus. If you have trouble sleeping, check out our simple and natural ways to battle insomnia.
4. Avoid stressing too much about the virus — or about anything else.
Too much stress weakens the immune system, which is the last thing you want to happen during a virus outbreak.
Luckily, stress management is as simple as exercising regularly, practicing relaxation techniques like yoga, tai chi and qigong, keeping a journal, talking to a family member/friend about your stressors, and saying “No” to potential stressors once in a while.
5. Get enough sunshine.
Being exposed to healthy amounts of sunlight allows your body to manufacture Vitamin D, another vitamin that’s crucial to the integrity of your immune system. Plus, sunshine boosts your mood and lowers anxiety levels, which in turn boosts your body’s ability to fight infection (see Item 4 on this list).
6. Stay up-to-date about COVID-19 from trustworthy sources.
Keep in mind that the media in general tends to exaggerate negative news, since those are the types of stories that attract attention from the public. If you come across an article that paints an extremely alarmist picture of COVID-19, chances are you should take it with a grain of salt.
Of course, that’s not to say there’s no real threat from COVID-19. As mentioned earlier, there have already been fatalities from the virus, and experts have yet to come up with a surefire cure for it. However, panicking over the virus will do more harm than good — as demonstrated by those who go as far as to drink bleach(!) to prevent infection.
Instead, get a balanced picture of the COVID-19 outbreak. Verify facts with sources such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and CDC. Follow the tips above, keep your body and immune system strong, and stay safe!