No proof yet Blacks are immune to Coronavirus – Dr Arthur Kennedy

Ghanaian medical doctor and politician, Dr Arthur Kobina Kennedy says the claim that Blacks are immune to the devastating coronavirus, is unproven.

In a three-minute video he recorded of himself from his base in South Carolina, USA, in which he sets out to straighten what he calls myths of the disease, Dr Kennedy explains that it is too early to admit as settled the so called claim that either Africans or warm climates are a little immune to the outbreak based on the the fact that only three cases have been diagnosed in Africa.

He has therefore advised the public to disregard the rumour that Blacks have the resistant against the virus and rather seek protection.

“There is a rumour that Blacks are immune, that has not been proven. All people of all race have recovered from the disease so don’t get a false sense of security.”

He insists that the public must take the necessary precautions against getting the virus. “If you are waiting for a coronavirus vaccine but you haven’t gotten a flu vaccine, maybe your priorities are wrong. You are more in danger of getting the flu than getting the coronavirus. So stay safe, be informed and stay calm because we have more danger in getting the flu in most parts of the world than getting the coronavirus.”

Myths
Touching on some of the misconceptions about the virus outbreak, Dr Kennedy said, some reported cases of people being dragged to the hospital in China are false.

“There is a lot of false information that is going around and it makes me concerned. Here are a few of the myths that I have seen. There are reported cases of people being dragged to hospital en masse by force in China, that is false.”

He added that, “There is also something going around about a Chinese physician who was urged to go join a group that is developing a cure for the virus and he is talking about how you can know you don’t have it based on whether you have a dry or wet cough, that is also not true.”

“The symptoms are just like the flu and you need a health professional to take a detailed history, including travel history to determine whether or not you are in indeed infected or not. The quarantine period is 14 days, but there are a few people outside the quarantine period who are testing positive”, he explained.

Background
Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness caused by a new virus.

Experts say symptoms range from a mild cough to pneumonia, and while some people recover easily, others may get very sick very quickly. There is evidence that it spreads from person to person but good hygiene can prevent infection.

According to the WHO, more than 90,000 cases have been confirmed worldwide and the number of deaths from the virus has reached 3,110 globally.