A meme posted offers mixed advice — some true, some false — about coronavirus protection.
The meme talking about how the virus works and ways of staying healthy appeared in a post (archived here) where it was published by Tracie Clayton on Facebook on March 12, 2020. It opened:, Users on social media saw this:, , "This laundry list contains a mix of recommendations - some supported by public health authorities, and others not. Lets go through each:", IT IS A RESPIRATORY VIRUS WHICH SPREADS FROM AN INFECTED PERSON THROUGH DROPLETS GENERATED FROM COUGHS & SNEEZES, OR THOUGH DROPLETS OF SALIVA OR DISCHARGE FROM THE NOSE, Indeed, COVID-19 is a virus that can affect the upper and lower respiratory tracts, and it is spread through droplets generated from coughs and sneezes, or through saliva or nasal discharge, according to the World Health Organization (WHO)., IT IS NOT TRANSMITTED BY AIR, Here is what WHO says about whether the coronavirus is transmitted via air: Studies to date suggest that the virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through contact with respiratory droplets rather than through the air., IT LIVES ON THE HANDS FOR 10 MINS., METAL 12 HOURS, FABRIC 9 HOURS, Here is what WHO says about how long the virus survives on surfaces: "It is not certain how long the virus that causes COVID-19 survives on surfaces, but it seems to behave like other coronaviruses. 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).", "If you think a surface may be infected," the organization says, "clean it with simple disinfectant to kill the virus and protect yourself and others. Clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, or nose.", STAY APPROX 3 FEET AWAY FROM PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO ARE COUGHING, SNEEZING OR HAVE A FEVER., The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cautions against close contact with anyone who is infected with the coronavirus. The federal agency defines close contact as "being within approximately 6 feet (2 meters) of a COVID-19 case for a prolonged period of time," and adds that "close contact can occur while caring for, living with, visiting, or sharing a health care waiting area or room with a COVID-19 case.", WHO cuts that safety zone in half in some cases: "Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing," it says., WASH HANDS FREQUENTLY WITH SOAP, All health officials agree with the recommendation that people wash their hands frequently - and for at least 20 seconds - with soap., USE STERLIZERS (sic), Here is what CDC has to say about using disinfectants: "For disinfection, diluted household bleach solutions, alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, and most common EPA-registered household disinfectants should be effective.", GARGLE WITH WARM WATER AND SALT, DRINK HOT WATER, STAY AWAY FROM COLD ITEMS, Neither CDC nor WHO appear to have offered any recommendations on whether to drink hot water, or to gargle with warm water and salt. Nor have they issued any recommendations about staying away from cold items., HAVE SUN EXPOSURES, "While its long been accepted that sunlight can be a great disinfectant, neither organization has suggested that taking a walk in the sunlight will protect anyone from becoming infected with coronavirus - or cure anyone who is already infected.", USE RESPIRATORY MASKS, CDC recommends that anyone who is already sick with coronavirus wear a face mask to limit exposing others to the coronavirus, but it notes that masks do not protect uninfected people from contracting the virus. And the CDC notes further that use of a mask by someone who would not be helped by it limits the supply of masks available for people who need them, such as caregivers and other health professionals., COVER COUGHS AND SNEEZES WITH A TISSUE, DISPOSE TISSUE IN A BIN AND WASH HANDS IMMEDIATELY AFTER, Yes, everyone agrees that a person should cough or sneeze into a tissue. Yet they add that, once the tissue is placed inside the bin, the bin should be covered. Absent a tissue, the crook of the arm will suffice., WASH CLOTHES OR EXPOSE TO THE SUN FOR TWO HOURS, "CDCs guidance about washing clothes is as follows:", IF EXPOSED TO A TEMP OF 26-27C IT WILL BE KILLED., Given that the disease is flourishing in areas where temperatures regularly reach 26-27C (78.8-80.6F), this seems improbable., , See who is sharing it (it might even be your friends...) and leave the link in the comments.:, "Tom Watkins is a reporter/editor who has worked for news organizations for more than 30 years. After earning his undergraduate degree in biology from Brown University and his masters from Columbia Journalism School, he rose from reporter to managing editor at Medical Tribune, a newspaper that circulated to more than 1 million doctors worldwide.\xa0\r\nHe then spent 24 years at CNNs Atlanta headquarters in a variety of roles, from medical producer to producer/correspondent to news editor on the website. Since leaving CNN in 2014, he has worked for the World Health Organizations Health Emergencies Programme in Geneva and edited books for Hachette Book Group. He is based in New York City.", Lead Stories is a fact checking website that is always looking for the latest false, deceptive or\n      inaccurate stories (or media) making the rounds on the internet.\n      \n      Spotted something? Let us know!., Lead Stories is a fact checking website that is always looking for the latest false, deceptive or\n        inaccurate stories (or media) making the rounds on the internet.\n        \n        Spotted something? Let us know!.
Fact Check: Popular Meme Offers Mix Of Truth And Info NOT Backed By Science | Lead Stories