https://fullfact.org/online/coronavirus-claims-symptoms-viral/
We’ve been asked to check a Facebook post that has been shared hundreds of thousands of times, which made a number of claims about the symptoms of Covid-19 and ways to prevent the disease.
The claims were previously a mixture of accurate and inaccurate. While the post did include some basic advice that is worth following, it also contained some claims which could have falsely led people to believe they don’t have Covid-19 when they do, or which suggested ways of preventing infection that will not work.
During the writing of this fact check, the post was edited by the author to alter some of the more inaccurate claims, and after we first published this article, the person who posted it removed the inaccurate claims. However, as the post had already been shared over 300,000 before these edits occurred, we’re going to focus on the original version of the text as it will have been so widely seen.
“If you have a runny nose and sputum, you have a common cold”
Having a runny nose and sputum (phlegm coughed up from the lungs) doesn’t rule out having Covid-19.
It’s true that early studies on the new coronavirus have found that a runny nose (rhinorrhoea in medical terminology) is a relatively uncommon symptom, but some patients did have it. At least one other study has found it to be a more common symptom. So if you have a runny nose you may still have Covid-19.
Covid-19’s main symptoms are a cough, high temperature and shortness of breath, but the US Center for Disease Control (CDC) says “sputum production” is a less common, but still reported, symptom. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that a third of coronavirus patients were producing sputum.
(In the newly edited version of the Facebook post, this claim has been changed to “If you have a runny nose and sputum, you MAY have a common cold/flu it isn't necessarily that you've caught the virus” which is accurate.)
“Coronavirus pneumonia is a dry cough with no runny nose.”
The term pneumonia describes the swelling of lung tissue. It’s usually caused by a bacterial infection, and has been seen in Covid-19 patients. One of the most common symptoms of Covid-19 is a dry cough. But as we’ve already said, having a runny nose doesn’t rule out Covid-19.
(The edited version of the post removed this claim.)
“This new virus is not heat-resistant and will be killed by a temperature of just 26/27 degrees. It hates the Sun.”
Because the virus is relatively new to us, there’s a lot we don’t know about it, like the temperatures it can withstand. You should be wary of sources that claim to have details this specific so early after the discovery of the virus. What we can do is look at related viruses. Coronavirus is a family of viruses including the common cold, SARS, and SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes Covid-19).
Studies have found that another coronavirus, MERS, was more stable at lower temperatures, and a warmer, humid environment slowed its transmission. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says coronaviruses in general can be destroyed at cooking-levels of heat, at around 70°C.
Despite this, it’s worth noting that going in the sun is unlikely to protect you from the virus, and you’re better off concentrating on washing your hands thoroughly. Some of the countries with confirmed coronavirus cases have warmer climates where the temperature is often above 27°C.
(The edited version of the post removed this claim.)
“If someone sneezes with it, it takes about 10 feet before it drops to the ground and is no longer airborne.”
There is no evidence that the SARS-CoV-2 virus (which causes Covid-19) spreads differently to other coronaviruses, which can be transmitted by droplets produced by coughs and sneezes. It’s difficult to say exactly how far droplets spread when you sneeze, as it depends on a factors like humidity and temperature. Research from MIT in recent years has shown that droplets from sneezes have the potential to spread several metres from the sneezing person. The NHS says you should cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve, but not your hands, when you sneeze, and put used tissues in the bin and wash your hands afterwards.
(The newly edited version of the post removes this claim.)
“If it drops on a metal surface it will live for at least 12 hours - so if you come into contact with any metal surface - wash your hands as soon as you can with a bacterial soap.”
The WHO says “Studies suggest that coronaviruses (including preliminary information on the COVID-19 virus) may persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days.
“This may vary under different conditions (e.g. type of surface, temperature or humidity of the environment).”
We don’t know how long the virus that causes Covid-19 can survive on surfaces yet, but washing your hands well with soap is good advice to prevent you picking up germs from surfaces.
(The edited version of the post removed this claim.)
“On fabric it can survive for 6-12 hours. normal laundry detergent will kill it.”
The CDC recommends that people who are in the same household as those with Covid-19 or someone suspected of having it, or those who are intimate partners or caregivers of them, should remove and wash soiled clothing, and wear disposable gloves when handling it. It says “In general, [use] a normal laundry detergent according to washing machine instructions and dry thoroughly using the warmest temperatures recommended on the clothing label.”
We haven’t found any reliable source saying exactly how long the virus can survive on fabric. In a blogpost, Harvard Medical School’s instructor in medicine Todd Ellerin writes: “Currently, there’s no evidence that COVID-19, the new coronavirus, can be transmitted from soft surfaces like fabric or carpet to humans.”
“Drinking warm water is effective for all viruses. Try not to drink liquids with ice.”
We can’t find any scientific evidence that warm water can cure or prevent diseases caused by viruses, although hot drinks can be a comfort to those suffering with coughs and colds.
(The edited version of the post just claims that you should avoid drinking liquids with ice.)
“Wash your hands frequently as the virus can only live on your hands for 5-10 minutes, but - a lot can happen during that time - you can rub your eyes, pick your nose unwittingly and so on”
Washing your hands thoroughly, and often, is good advice. It’s not clear exactly how long the virus can ‘survive’ on your hands, especially not down to the minute. But the post is right to mention that rubbing your eyes, mouth or nose is problematic if you haven’t washed your hands, because these areas are a prime entry point for viruses and bacteria.
“You should also gargle as a prevention. A simple solution of salt in warm water will suffice.”
Other fact checkers have also written about this claim, which was attributed to respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan, a key figure during the SARS outbreak. The hospital where he worked debunked the rumour via a post on social media site Weibo.
Gargling with salt water is recommended by the NHS for adults who have a sore throat, but only to relieve symptoms once you have caught it, not as a preventative measure. The WHO has said that there’s no evidence saline can prevent Covid-19.
(In the updated version of the post, this claim was changed to read “Gargling with salt water is recommended by the NHS for adults who have a sore throat, but only to relieve symptoms once you have caught it, not as a preventative measure”.)
“THE SYMPTOMS
It will first infect the throat, so you'll have a sore throat lasting 3/4 days
The virus then blends into a nasal fluid that enters the trachea and then the lungs, causing pneumonia. This takes about 5/6 days further.
With the pneumonia comes high fever and difficulty in breathing.
The nasal congestion is not like the normal kind. You feel like you're drowning. It's imperative you then seek immediate attention by telephoning 111 or your doctor - don't visit.”
In general, this is a roughly accurate description of the common symptoms of Covid-19, although some patients may experience other symptoms and the timing of those symptoms may differ.
The CDC says that sore throat has been reported “in some patients”. More commonly, symptoms include fever, a cough, muscle pain and shortness of breath, as the post claims. Not everyone who has Covid-19 will get pneumonia though. The NHS does not mention nasal congestion that ‘feels like drowning’ as a specific symptom for Covid-19.
It does advise that you use its 111 online coronavirus service, if you have recently returned from somewhere with a higher risk of the new coronavirus, a list of which can be found here.
The post is right to advise you to call 111 if you think you have the virus, and not visit your GP or a hospital in person.
(In the updated version of the post, point number four was edited to remove the claim that nasal congestion which feels like drowning is a symptom.)
This article is part of our work fact checking potentially false pictures, videos and stories on Facebook. You can read more about this—and find out how to report Facebook content—here. For the purposes of that scheme, we’ve rated this claim as true because the content was updated to remove false claims after we first published the article. We initially rated the content as partly false because not all of the claims were backed up by evidence and some were wrong.
Update 6 March 2020
We updated this piece after the original Facebook post was updated to remove the false and unevidenced claims.
By Grace Rahman
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