Wearing masks will help and a few other myths about coronavirus

The coronavirus outbreak is escalating quicker by the day and so many out there are seeking comfort wherever they can find some. Right from wearing surgical face masks to dismissing COVID - 19 as no more of a threat than the flue, people have been really keen on easing themselves out while the number of cases increase. Although, with all the wrong information spreading on the Internet, it can be really difficult to know how concerned people should be and how they can keep themselves safe.

Here are a few myths surrounding coronavirus:

- Wearing a face mask will protect me: An increasingly common sight all around the world is the face mask, especially when it comes to public transport. However, most of the masks used by public are not going to help much from COVID-19. Surgical masks are not designed with a decent filter on them which means they can't really be relied on to filter out the finer particles such as viruses. Also, we breathe out humidified air which actually moistens the mask over time and once the mask is moist, it's not effective. Wearing a face mask can give people false sense of reassurance that can lead to them avoiding other infection control practices.

- Avoiding human contact means I won't get it: a few workplaces are already encouraging people to not come to work due to the spread of coronavirus and there are a few football clubs banning players and staff from shaking hands too. But, it isn't just human contact that you should worry about. The virus can live on hard surfaces for days long. Viruses can survive three to four days on common touch surfaces like stainless steel, glass, ceramics and plastic. This includes things like chair arms, work tops, stair railings and door handles.

- Rinsing my nose with salt water will help: There's very little evidence that this will actually help but some swear by rinsing their nose with salt water as a way of recovering quicker from the common cold. Although, it hasn't been shown to prevent respiratory infections. There is no evidence that daily rinsing of the nose with salt water will protect you from coronavirus.