Are packages from China safe amid coronavirus outbreak? Myths debunked by the experts
Is it safe to receive packages from China during the coronavirus outbreak?
What about protecting yourself? Can sesame oil, UV light, hand dryers or spraying chlorine on your body kill the virus?
The World Health Organization has answers to popular myths and questions as fears about the deadly COVID 19 emerge in the United States.
As of Thursday there have been more than 82,000 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus and more than 2,800 deaths globally, according to the World Health Organization. Over 60 cases of coronavirus are confirmed in the U.S.
What doesn’t kill coronavirus
Naturally, many people have questions about best practices for protecting themselves from coronavirus. Some “remedies” are not effective, however, and may even harm your body, according to the World Health Organization, or WHO.
Here are some examples:
Hand dryers don’t kill the virus, despite beliefs that heat exterminates germs. Frequently wash with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer for protection, then dry with a hand dryer or paper towels.
Ultraviolet lights shouldn’t be used to sterilize your hands because they can cause skin irritation.
No, spraying chlorine or alcohol all over your body won’t help, and it will probably hurt your eyes or mouth.
What protects from coronavirus
As mentioned above, hand washing and using hand sanitizer frequently is the best bet for safeguarding yourself from coronavirus. Yet, there are myths that other practices will help, too.
Here are a few:
Rubbing sesame oil on your body won’t block the coronavirus from entering your body. Chemicals such as bleach or “chlorine-based disinfectants, either solvents, 75% ethanol, peracetic acid and chloroform” can kill coronavirus, but don’t put them on your skin.
Pneumonia and flu vaccines don’t protect you. A new coronavirus vaccine must be developed, and that hasn’t happened yet.
Regularly rinsing your nose with saline isn’t proven to protect you, despite “limited evidence” it helps with a faster recovery from the common cold.
Garlic is a healthy food, but eating it won’t protect you from coronavirus.
Antibiotics don’t work on viruses. If you’re hospitalized, you might receive them to treat a co-infection.
Travel, pets and other coronavirus questions
This worldwide outbreak has lots of people wondering how their daily routine will be affected. With that, come a broad spectrum of questions.
Here are answers several:
Thermal scanners can detect if you have a fever from coronavirus, but you may be infected for up to 10 days before showing signs of sickness.
It’s safe to receive mail from China. The coronavirus won’t survive long on letters or packages.
There’s no evidence pets can spread coronavirus, but it’s always a good idea to wash your hands after touching them. A pet dog tested “weak positive” for the virus in Hong Kong, but more tests are needed to determine whether it’s actually infected.
Coronavirus affects people of all ages, but older patients or those with existing medical conditions are at higher risk of severe illness.
This story was originally published February 28, 2020 at 4:30 PM with the headline "Are packages from China safe amid coronavirus outbreak? Myths debunked by the experts."