The fear of COVID-19 has become a common aspect of one’s life around the world. Towns, cities, and even full countries have shut down to prevent the spread of the virus and its infection. Unfortunately, as of March 30, 2020, there is neither a vaccine to prevent nor a cure to treat an infection caused by COVID-19. As a result, there has been a mass hysteria that has sadly caused those who are worried to create or transmit myths or falsehoods regarding prevention and/or treatment of COVID-19. Not only are some of these myths ineffective, they may also be dangerous to one who believes them, and as well as those around them.

One assortment of pronoun myths regarding the prevention of COVID-19, is the virus cannot spread in temperatures that are extremely warm, or cold. Firstly, there is no scientific evidence that the spread of a virus such as COVID-19 can be restricted by heat or humidity. In contrast to this myth the virus can spread and affect those who are infected regardless of the temperature, and thus waiting for the summer to limit the spread will be dangerous and ineffective. Secondly, there is also no scientific evidence that increasingly cold weather or conditions limit the spread of the virus or its effects. In the scientific community, there has been no evidence or research to confirm this claim. Additionally, any methods to increase one’s internal heat such as taking a scolding hot bath, shower, prolonged exposure to heating or Ultra-violate lamps, or others will be ineffective and even dangerous subjecting anyone attempting this to burn their skin and risk serious and personal damage to their bodies. These asserted myths remain a falsehood because despite the temperature outside, a person’s internal temperature remains the same. Unless a person is suffering from a fever, or other medical conditions, their internal will not become colder as a result of the weather and limit one’s ability to contract the virus.

Secondly, another falsehood regarding prevention and treatment of COVID-19, is the myth that maintaining a certain diet or ingesting large amounts of garlic will prevent the virus. Although it is true that maintaining a healthy diet may strengthen one’s immune system, it cannot prevent a person from contracting the virus or fight an infection. In the specific instance of garlic as portrayed by this myth, it should be noted that garlic has been confirmed to have antimicrobial properties, which are microscopic biological agents that can kill microorganisms or stops their growth. But, in the case of COVID-19, various health organizations and researchers are yet to find scientifically evidence that antimicrobial foods such as garlic can prevent or treat an infection caused by COVID-19.

In addition to these falsehoods and rumors regarding preventions and treatment of COVID-19, even more emerge every day. It is crucial to one’s health to investigate these myths by consulting with reputable resources such as the Center for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, or a local medical provider.

As of March 30, 2020, there has been nearly 740,000 positive cases of Coronavirus reported worldwide, including nearly 143,000 in the United States.