NATIONAL NEWS - Since the outbreak of Covid-19, as with so many disasters, some myths posing as facts have been spread far and wide across many social media platforms, which beg a closer look and some debunking from reliable sources and experts.

Myth: Someone deliberately created and released the Covid-19 virus.

Fact: According to Dr Lisa Maragakis, senior director of infection prevention at America's Johns Hopkins research hospital, a disease outbreak happens when a virus that is common in animals transforms and passes on to humans (diseases that pass from animals to humans are called zoonoses). Maragakis believes this is how the 2019 strain of the coronavirus probably came into being.

Myth: Heat kills Covid-19. Some claims allege that drinking hot water, taking a warm bath or even blowing warm air into the sinuses using a hairdryer can cure the disease. It has also been alleged that summer temperatures above 26°C will make it disappear.

Fact: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned against these false statements. 

According to the WHO, there is no conclusive scientific proof to corroborate the suggestion that heat will cure patients with Covid-19. 

A statement advising people to take hot baths and avoid ice-cream was circulated online featuring the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) logo. The organisation has since indicated that the post did not originate from them.

Myth: Gargle with bleach or ingest it to protect yourself from Covid-19. Some social media messages also state that essential oils, salt water, ethanol and bicarbonate of soda can protect people from the virus.

Fact: Drinking or gargling with bleach is dangerous. Its active ingredient, sodium hypochlorite, is corrosive and could burn your stomach and oesophagus. The WHO confirmed that no confirmed cure exists, including those in the myth above. The WHO reiterates that the most effective way to protect oneself against the new coronavirus is by frequently cleaning your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or by washing them with soap and water.

Myth: Spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body can kill the coronavirus.

Fact: According to Maragakis and the WHO, this is untrue. She explains that spraying them could harm your mucus membranes. She adds that these items can, however, be used to disinfect surfaces, which has been cited by the WHO as another way to limit the spread of the disease.

In South Africa, if you publish fake news or disinformation regarding the coronavirus online, you may be arrested, detained and prosecuted. If found guilty, you may be sent to jail for up to six months. 

This is in terms of regulations issued by minister of cooperate governance and traditional affairs Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, on Wednesday 18 March.

Specifically, the notice states that:
"Any person who publishes any statement, through any medium, including social media, with the intention to deceive any other person about -

(a) Covid-19;

(b) Covid-19 infection status of any person; or

(c) any measure taken by the Government to address Covid-19, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, or both such fine and imprisonment."

The regulations were published while various untruths were doing the rounds online.

The notice that was issued by the judiciary stating that the document that indicated certain matters would no longer be heard in Gauteng-based high courts, was false.

One example is this notice appearing to be from the South African Judiciary. It indicated that certain matters would no longer be heard in Gauteng-based high courts. The judiciary has since issued a notice stating that the above message was not sent from their offices.

Another post that was shared widely by social media users reportedly states that drinking hot water and being exposed to the sun will kill the virus. It purported to be from United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and also advised people to avoid ice cream. UNICEF indicated that this was disinformation that was not posted by the organisation.

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