Contents
- Popular myths about coronavirus that shouldn’t be believed
- 1. The incubation period lasts two weeks
- 2. The carrier of the infection has signs of ARVI
- 3. For Europeans, the disease is less dangerous
- 4. More often people over 60 get sick
- 5.With the onset of a warm spring, there will be fewer cases of diseases
- 6. Coronavirus is no more dangerous than flu
- 7. In kindergartens, matinees are canceled due to coronavirus
- 8. In order not to get sick, you cannot travel to other countries
- 9. Dogs and cats – carriers of coronavirus, it is not for nothing that Moscow announced the capture of stray animals
- 10. It’s time to stock up on food, soon quarantine will be announced for all of us
- Note
The disease, which first manifested itself in China, is spreading to more and more countries. There are already many myths about the virus. Is there a grain of truth in them? We found out from the experts.
Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Infectious Diseases of the Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education of the Russian National Research Medical University named after Pirogov
1. The incubation period lasts two weeks
– Not always like this. Previously, it was believed that the incubation period is from 14 to 27 days, but now there is evidence that you can get sick two to three days after contact with the source of infection.
2. The carrier of the infection has signs of ARVI
– The information is only partly correct. The symptoms of coronavirus are similar to those of SARS or flu. But observations have shown that the carrier of the infection can remain healthy or be ill in a mild form without pronounced symptoms, especially in young people.
3. For Europeans, the disease is less dangerous
– The assumption was not confirmed. This is evidenced by the current situation in Italy. A severe course of the disease and deaths are noted among representatives of other nationalities. The number of cases of infection, severe course and deaths among residents of the PRC is higher due to the fact that it was there that the first outbreak arose even before the organization of quarantine measures, as well as due to the higher population density. An important factor in the spread of a new type of coronavirus was the coincidence of the outbreak with the celebration of the Chinese New Year, when traditionally the inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom return to their homeland, as well as a large number of tourists visit the PRC, subsequently they return to different countries, becoming a source of infection.
4. More often people over 60 get sick
– Diseases are susceptible to all age groups, however, if among children and young people the disease occurs in an erased or very mild form, persons over 60 years old, especially with chronic diseases of the cardiovascular, pulmonary system, cancer, diabetes, asthma, immunodeficiency, heavy smokers die much more often. Statistically, men are more likely to get sick more severely than women.
5.With the onset of a warm spring, there will be fewer cases of diseases
– No, the seasonality factor has nothing to do with it, the virus is not afraid of heat. The initial outbreak originated in China, and is currently spreading in South Korea, the climate of these countries is quite mild. It is difficult to predict the duration of the epidemic, according to preliminary estimates, it is 4-10 months.
– This is true. Despite the spread of infection outside China, the disease is no more significant than the same flu, measles, whooping cough. For example, every year from 250 thousand to 650 thousand people die from influenza in the world. So, in the United States at the beginning of March 2020, more than 15 thousand deaths from seasonal flu have already been registered. To date, 89 thousand people have been infected with the coronavirus * (data as of March 2), of which about 3 thousand patients have died.
Senior Researcher, St. Petersburg Research Institute of Influenza
– Rather, it is a quarantine measure necessary to fight the flu. If the percentage of sick children reaches certain values, they refuse to hold mass events.
8. In order not to get sick, you cannot travel to other countries
– You should not visit countries where a large number of cases of infection have been recorded (China, Korea, Italy, Iran). There are no reasons to refuse any travel, but preventive measures must be observed, they do not differ from the methods of protection against other respiratory viral infections: influenza, adenovirus, rhinovirus. It is important to wash your hands regularly, it is advisable to visit less often places where people gather. Mass events often cause the rapid spread of airborne viral infections, for example, the annual increase in the number of diseases occurs during school holidays, the Kremlin Christmas tree, and the end of the vacation period in the fall.
– Pets do get sick with coronavirus (we are talking about a different species), but it is not dangerous for people. There is no evidence that dogs and cats can carry COVID-19. Obviously, trapping is a program of deratization in the city.
10. It’s time to stock up on food, soon quarantine will be announced for all of us
– Panic has no grounds, we are not talking about a catastrophe, all measures are being taken to avoid it. You should not trust the false messages that are replete with the Internet. Now, for example, thousands of cases are reported in Moscow. This is incorrect information. You can find out about the current situation on the website .
Note
If you bought a ticket to Italy, Korea, Iran, contact the tour operator with a request to change the place of rest or to postpone the trip. The trip can be canceled altogether on the basis of Art. 10, 14 of Law No. 132-FZ, art. 451 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation. If you bought plane tickets, paid for hotel accommodation, you can return the money spent by contacting the place of purchase of services. If you have any additional questions, call the Rostourism hotline (8-499-678-12-03 from 9:00 to 18:00, 8-915-117-04-51 from 10:00 to 19:00).