Facts
- Coronavirus is a virus like the common cold, but can be much worse.
- Anyone can get coronavirus and anyone can spread it.
- Common symptoms are a high fever, a cough and it can make breathing hard.
- There's no cure yet, so to help stop it spreading you should social distance, quarantine and self isolate when needed.
Myths
- Eat garlic to avoid infection - healthy, but smelly and won’t protect you.
- Drink water every 15 minutes - drinking water is good, drinking too much water is not so good, and neither will flush the virus out.
- Eat ice cream - nice, but not coronabusting.
- Get hot, stay hot - sunbathing and hot baths don’t work, nor does eating chillies and ginger.
- Drink silver solution - weird, pricey and more likely to turn you blue. That last bit is actually true!
- Rinse your nostrils with saline solution - Not nice and doesn’t work.
- Gargle bleach to protect yourself - so dangerous and so stupid.
The World Health Organisation has great info on the facts behind these myths on their Covid-19 mythbusters page.
Scams
Scammers see coronavirus as a chance to add more dodgy deals to their hustle.
Watch this video by Which and find out how to protect yourself against coronavirus fraud.
Get advice from the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133 if you're offered testing kits, protective kits, cures, or delivery and collection services from people or companies you don't know. They can also help with issues related with work, caring, benefits, bills, housing and shopping.
Conspiracy theories
"I've heard it's not a serious ‘virus’, it's a perfect plan to cover up 5G related illnesses."
“Covid-19 was created in a lab and let out by XXXXXXX.” Add your chosen country here.
“Covid-19 arrived from space.” The aliens did it!
You might have heard some of these and want to know why they're out there.
- Infotagion is a reliable, independent, expert fact-checking service for Covid-19.
- Ofcom have a making sense of media page to combat Covid-19 misinformation.
- DM myths, theories and questions to Lambeth Made on Instagram or Twitter.
Check it before you share it
Be careful what you share as things aren't always what they seem online.
Protect us all from fake news and use the SHARE checklist first.
Information and advice in different languages
Doctors of the World, in partnership with the British Red Cross, Migrant Help and Clear Voice, share coronavirus guidance in 60 languages.