Coronavirus: 5 more common 'lies' experts have unmasked about the deadly disease
- Many people are holding onto myths and beliefs about ways to prevent or cure the novel coronavirus
- In Ghana, a craze for hair in the Bible began with a directive that people could drop it into water and drink to prevent or cure COVID-19
- YEN.com.gh amplifies 5 myths, claims or beliefs that have no evidence and experts have also debunked
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Prior to the weekend, there was a mad rush for hair in the Bible following claims that people could drop it into water and drink to prevent or cure the coronavirus.
The claims followed a so-called prophesy received by a little boy in Accra after the National Day of Prayer on March 25, 2020, which was set aside by President Akufo-Addo, urging all religious bodies and Ghanaians to seek God’s intervention in the fight against COVID-29.
On the back of the recent claims, YEN.com.gh amplifies 5 myths, claims or beliefs that have no evidence and experts have also debunked.
Beware of these viral claims that keep appearing online.
1. Holding your breath.
If you can hold your breath for more than 10 seconds without discomfort. A widely-shared claim asserts, there’s no fibrosis or scaring in the lungs and basically no infections.
READ ALSO: COVID-19: WHO demystifies 14 common 'lies' about deadly disease
Not true! Holding your breath is not a test for Fibrosis and Fibrosis is not a symptom of COVID-19. The main symptoms are high fever and a persistent dry cough.
2. Home-made hand sanitiser recipes.
Beware of internet recipes or solutions for hand sanitiser. According to the BBC, anything for disinfectants for cleaning surfaces probably won’t be suitable for the skin.
3. The virus can survive on surfaces for up to a month.
This highly unlikely.
The BBC reports that research on other strains of coronavirus such as SARS or MERS shows that virus can remain infectious on hard surfaces like metal, glass or plastic from about two hours up to a maximum 9 days.
Experts say the risk of contamination is likely to be reduced significantly after 72 hours.
4. Cow urine.
Some Hindu groups in India believe that cow urine has medicinal properties and can ward off coronavirus and other diseases.
However, experts say this is not true. Cow urine cannot cure cancer and currently, there’s not evidence that it can cure coronavirus.
5. Human hair.
A craze for hair in Bible purported to cure COVID-19 started in parts of Ghana including the Affram Plains after people claimed a little boy received a message from God after the National Day of Prayer on March 25, 2020.
People rushed to look for hair in their Bible to drop into water and drink to prevent or cure the COVID-19.
Beware that there is no current evidence backing this claim and people should avoid the practice.
Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh previously reported that amidst the outbreak and spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, many have shared unvaried information which thrived on myths and popular beliefs held by people about the dreaded COVID-19.
Many have shared some of these misconceptions on social media, which have further heightened people’s fears and panic among many.
In other news, a lady identified Reea Rodney has shared a harrowing experience about how she is struggling to deal after testing positive for the dreaded COVID-19. She revealed that she has been sick for eight days. Reea Rodney revealed via social media that she tested positive for the COVID-19 and asked for reinforcement through prayers for speedy recovery.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
