Another text as an attempt to promote myths and mysteries related to the coronavirus
Original title: SCIENTISTS DIDN’T LIE ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS: five facts that have remained a mystery to this day
The portal Ulica.mk published an article in which it presents 5 allegedly mysterious facts about the coronavirus.
According to the author of the article, some information provided by experts on the virus, allegedly turned out to be incorrect, and there is no answer to them to date.
“The coronavirus is increasingly being viewed as an economic rather than a health plague. Contradictory information from medical experts, who gave confusing information that turned out to be inaccurate, also contributed to this to some extent.”
You can find the link to the original title here.
The F2N2 team responds to their “claims and mysterious facts” with accurate information supported by facts from official sources.
Humans cannot transmit the virus to animals
Claim: “It was first rumored that the virus was transmitted by a bat, and then scientists decided that humans could not transmit the infection to animals. When it was discovered that some owners had infected their cats and tigers, the scientists immediately “explained” that the virus had mutated and the transmission of the animals had resumed!“
What we need to know is that scientists do not “decide” whether or not humans can transmit the infection to animals.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the exact source of the current COVID-19 coronavirus is not known, but it is known to be of animal origin. At this point, there is no evidence that animals play a significant role in the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. The risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to humans is thought to be small. We are still learning about this virus, but it seems that it can be spread by humans to animals in some situations. The Center also explains that it is working with human and animal health care partners to monitor the situation and will continue to update the information. Further studies are needed to understand whether and how different animals can be affected by COVID-19. The first case in the United States of animals testing positive for COVID-19 was a tiger in the New York zoo. Public health officials believe the big cats became ill after being exposed to a zoo employee who was infected with the virus. But this investigation is ongoing.
Detailed research is still being done on the transmission of the virus from animals to humans and vice versa.
The Young and the healthy are resilient
Claim: “At first, scientists claimed that young and healthy people were safe because the virus attacked those with weak immunity and excess weight. It turned out that it was not true at all, because people who were actively involved in sports, were eating properly, and regularly checked their health, ended up on respirators.“
It is not true that young people are less exposed or that the virus only affects the elderly. Everyone with concomitant illness is less immune to the infection, regardless of age. The portal did not provide any facts that completely healthy people became infected, or that they had severe symptoms of the disease. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States explains which categories of people are at higher risk and who should take extra precautions.
These categories include people over 65, people with chronic lung disease, heart disease, diabetics, people with weaker immunity, people with asthma, people with HIV, people with liver disease, people with dementia, people with special needs, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, homeless and refugees (due to the conditions in which they live, in minimal hygienic conditions.
3. The test says “negative” while the person is “positive”
Claim: It is claimed that: “Thousands of PCR tests are performed every day in each country and they have proven to be unreliable. Specifically, for many, these rapid tests have shown a “negative” result, and after three days they were admitted to the hospital as “positive”.
Fast tests are not reliable because they only show if the virus is present, and not if the person is infected, i.e. that it is possible that it might be in the incubation period…
According to Johns Hopkins University’s analysis, rapid PCR tests can only indicate the presence of the virus at the time of the test, and cannot prove whether a person has been previously infected and then recovered, and globally, these tests are rarely used. The most common types of tests used to identify COVID-19 are serological tests or blood tests, which are also used by state institutions. Our team has already researched the types of tests used in North Macedonia and concluded that rapid tests or PCR tests are “aids in diagnosing patients suspected of having SARS-CoV-2, in relation to the clinical picture and the results of other laboratory tests. The results of the qSARS-CoV-2 IgG / IgM Rapid Test cannot be used as the sole basis for diagnosis. These rapid tests can often give a false picture of the presence of the virus if they are made at the very beginning of the infection because, as mentioned above, this test detects only one type of gene of the virus. That is why the World Health Organization does not recommend these types of tests. And most states do not use them.
What is the cure for corona?
Claim: ”First, asymptomatic people were sent home in isolation, and then people were treated with Chloroquine, while some were treated with antibiotics. An even bigger enigma is that people who have had a COVID-19 can get it again“.
The author does not provide accurate information which states he claims to have sent the infected into isolation without showing symptoms, although there have been cases where they did not need medical attention because many of those infected did not show symptoms and had no complaints. In terms of Chloroquine and antibiotics, they are in an experimental phase due to lack of vaccine. The United States was the first to announce the idea of combining antibiotics with Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine, combinations of drugs used to treat malaria, and then Russia, which we have already written about.
In terms of whether you can get infected again, the World Health Organization is clear: If you are infected, you need to be treated and you will not be infected for life. However, there is a possibility of re-infection if you are exposed and don’t take care, i.e. you do not follow the recommendations.
How is it actually transmitted?
Claim: “Experts continue to insist that people wear masks and gloves indoors, and they said the coronavirus is transmitted by droplets. First, they told us to wash our hands regularly, and then they started asking everyone to wear gloves. In the United States, a person who has had no contact with people for months has been infected with the virus“.
The World Health Organization recommends using masks in public, when taking care of sick people or who are suspected of being infected but to be very careful when removing them because there is a risk of contamination. Gloves are not mentioned in these recommendations of the World Health Organization, but each country independently prescribes protective measures, depending on their needs. Thus, North Macedonia recommends its citizens to use only masks. And the recommendations for regular hand washing are also valid.
The case of an infected person without contact and without travel abroad is true. However, the circumstances in which he lived are still being investigated. There are other such cases, so it is being investigated whether the virus is transmitted only through direct contact with an infected person.
It is clear that none of the points listed by the portal hide mysteries.
All information on the COVID-19 coronavirus is publicly available. Let’s not allow to be misled. It is up to us to believe all the journalistic articles or to check the facts to find out the truth.
