Thread by @Chockalingam_Ra

#COVID19
10 facts & myth busters!

#1 Social Distancing is not restrictive of social gatherings like malls and movies. We have expanded that to almost any contact outside of family. Each infected person infecting 3 others TIMES 15 will be close to a million infected in 2 wks.

#2 #Handwashing vs #Sanitizer
Precautions are important. The best evidenced based precaution is #Handwashing. Virus can last in surfaces and clothing upto several hours. Also hand washing, done properly is as good or better than hand sanitizers.

#3 #Highrisk groups such as health care workers should protect themselves and their families too. So, please have your own quarantine protocols at home. #Covid is the greatest leveler of mankind, and hurts everyone equally. Stay home, and if not, stay safe!

#4 #Homeremedies ,garlic, drinking water, vitamin C, or other herbal preparations might help improve aspects of health but there is NO evidence that they will protect or cure you if #Covid. It will be a while before we have approved meds/vaccine. So, for now,good old #Prevention

#5 #Weatherchanges aren’t going to influence #Covid transmission. It is a global infectious agent and has already impacted people across various weather patterns. Hot water baths, home dryers or even UV light are not going to disinfect. Again, just practice #handwashing

#6 #Socialmedia
We live in an era of information flooding. With restricted human contact, most defer to #technology and therefore, more screen time. Use screen time to connect with family and friends, and not overload with information leading to fear. THIS IS NOT THE END

#7 Risk of transmission
R0, which is rate of transmission by a single infected person is 2.2 for #COVID, while 1.3 for #Flu. So, your chances of catching this is higher than flu, not less. Added to this is the absence of vaccine, unlike with Flu. So, prevention is our best bet

#8 #Stats on the country, but on an average, 81% recover, 13.8% report severe illness, 4.7% become critical and 2.3% unfortunately die. While this is no death sentence, it is in the hands of those 81% the fate of the 2.3%. Again, these numbers can change

#9 Stealth transmission
Jeffrey Shaman from Columbia Uni. Published in science the impact of asymptomatic carriers responsible for early dissemination of the virus. Though epidemics DONT spread this way, early viral shedding has been documented, further evidence of Social dist.

#10 #Facemasks
Wearing one, unless you are infected or high risk or a health care provider has no clear evidence for use. It is NOT a preventive strategy for #covid. Hand washing IS! Social distancing IS.

This will pass; let us get through this. Some tips for stress relief!