Myths with COVID-19

COVID-19 has been with us for some time now since its emergence from Wuhan in China around last quarter of 2019.  Since March 12, 2020, all Ghanaians have been put to fear in one way or another. This is because the cases keep rising by the day.

The first report from the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo informed us of two confirmed cases. A partial lockdown was introduced by the government to enable scientists to study the virus and to control its spread.

However, the ban on social gathering was lifted at a time the figures of confirmed cases and death had risen to more than 10,000 and over 40 respectively.

The continuous spread of false information, coupled with the increasing trend in the disease spread, is creating fear and panic which if not addressed, will contribute to the exponential increase in the number of cases.

Virus no more?

Since the easing of the restrictions in the Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi and its surrounding communities, some individuals think that the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 has been totally eradicated from Ghana.

This is because the initial reason given for the first restriction was to control the spread of the virus. So if the President is asking us to go back to church, schools etc., then it implies that ‘the virus is no more’.

This is a myth that must be dealt with, together with other ones that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified. 

This is necessary because the continuous spread of these myths will increase the rate of infection and the burden on our hospitals, as well as the health professionals.

Myth

Myth is a widely held but false belief or idea. It also means a misrepresentation of the truth. This is something that exists only in the imagination of people and which actual existence is not verifiable.

Clodd, in his book Myths and Dreams, described myth as the product of man’s emotion and imagination acted upon by his surroundings. Some of the common myths associated with COVID-19 are:

COVID-19 is spread by 5G networks

Fact: 5G mobile network does not spread COVID-19. Viruses cannot travel on radio waves/mobile networks. COVID-19 is spreading in many countries that do not have 5G mobile network. Viruses in general are biologically inert.

COVID-19 spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks. People can also be infected by touching a contaminated surface and then their eyes, mouth or nose.

 Drinking alcohol can prevent or cure COVID-19

Fact: Drinking alcohol cannot protect you from COVID-19. Frequent or excessive alcohol consumption can increase your risk to health problems.

COVID-19 can’t survive in hot/sunny countries

Fact: Exposing yourself to temperatures higher than 250C does not prevent COVID-19.

You can contract COVID-19 no matter how sunny or hot the weather is. Countries with hot weather conditions have recorded cases of COVID-19.

 Only the aged are susceptible

Fact: COVID-19 affects people of all ages. WHO advises people of all ages to take steps to protect themselves against the virus.

 Spraying of alcohol or chlorine kills the virus

Fact: Spraying of alcohol or chlorine all over your body will not kill viruses that have already entered your body. Know that alcohol and chlorine can be harmful to your mucus membrane (i.e. eyes, mouth). Beware that both alcohol and chlorine can be useful to disinfect surfaces but they need to be used under appropriate recommendation.

Adding pepper to soup/meals prevents COVID-19

Fact: Pepper is not a cure for COVID-19. No nutritional component of pepper has been confirmed to cure COVID-19.

 Swimming/bathing sea water

Fact: Swimming, bathing or using sea water for meal preparation cannot cure or prevent COVID-19.

 Lifting/easing restrictions

Fact: Lifting/easing restriction on the ban on social gathering does not mean the novel coronavirus is no more in Ghana.

This has become necessary because life must still go on even in the midst of the pandemic. Economic and other social activities must still go on in order not to bring the country to a halt. 

COVID-19: disease of affluence

Fact: COVID-19 is no respecter of persons, whether rich or poor. The upper part of Ghana is said to be the poorest of all the regions in Ghana but they have recorded cases of COVID-19.

Virus not infectious at night

Fact: The novel coronavirus is capable of suspending in the air for three hours once it is released in droplets by an infected person and can survive for more than three hours when temperatures are low. The protocol for prevention must be observed at all times when we move out of our rooms as directed by WHO and Ghana Health Service (GHS).

COVID-19 is real and the good news is that contracting the disease is not a death warrant. Many people have recovered from COVID-19. All we need to do is to strictly adhere to the protocols that the WHO and GHS have put in place to fight COVID-19.

The writer is a Microbiologist

Email: nelsonkumah95@gmail.com