With so much information circulating about COVID-19, it’s important to be able to separate myth from fact. Luckily, with a little help from our own physician experts, we’ve been able to dispel some of the more commonly heard myths to help avoid the spread of misinformation.

A vaccine to cure COVID-19 is available.

This is SO FALSE! Scientists are currently working on developing a vaccine that is both safe and effective. However, currently, there is no vaccine for COVID-19.

Buying products from overseas will make you sick.

This is SO FALSE! Per the World Health Organization (WHO), the likelihood of becoming infected with COVID-19 from a package is low since it has likely traveled over several days and been exposed to varying temperatures in transit.

The warmer weather will kill the virus.

This is SO FALSE! Exposure to extreme temperatures (hot or cold) does not prevent contraction of COVID-19. Places across the world with hot weather have reported cases of the virus.

You can contract COVID-19 by eating Chinese food.

This is SO FALSE! Simple as that.

If you can hold your breath for longer than 10 seconds without coughing, you do not have COVID-19.

This is SO FALSE! The only way to determine if you have the virus is with a laboratory test.

Rinsing your nose with saline can help prevent infection.

This is SO FALSE! There is no evidence that rinsing with saline prevents the virus from infecting your body.

Spraying alcohol or chlorine on your body kills the virus.

This is SO FALSE! Although these products can kill a virus on a surface, they cannot kill a virus within the body and can cause harm to skin, eyes, and mouth, or if ingested.  Alcohol and chlorine bleach are good disinfectants for surfaces and objects, not for bodies.

COVID-19 only affects older people.

This is SO FALSE! Although older people and people with pre-existing medical conditions are more vulnerable, people of all ages can be infected with COVID-19.

Medicine is available to treat COVID-19.

This is SO FALSE! Research and clinical trials are underway, but currently there is no specific medicine approved for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19.

For more information, we recommend visiting NJ.gov’s COVID-19 Information Hub where you can ask questions, check symptoms, and read through their FAQs