Coronavirus misinformation is growing increasingly bizarre, and increasingly dangerous

iNews ^ | 03/11/2020 | Ruchira Sharma

[SeekAndFind]

Misinformation about the coronavirus is continuing to spread online, and bleed into offline spaces as well, leading to some widespread misconceptions and confusion about the coronavirus. Experts say a lack of high-quality information has allowed false claims to fill in the gaps, raising concerns that people are actually following dangerous advice as a result.

You may have seen some of the information yourself, whether it's on your Facebook feed, an email forwarded from an uncle you haven't spoken to in years, or even published by some news outlets. From the evidence-free recommendation of vitamin C as a cure, to claims people are putting condoms on their fingers as protection, the inaccurate claims keep circulating.

Like many previous bits of misinformation, many are simply repeatedly reshared screenshots, or copy-and-pasted messages with unverified or factually incorrect information. Here's the truth behind some of the most questionable ones.

There's no evidence 'high-dose' Vitamin C can stop Coronavirus

A 'verified statement' from a university hospital in China claims that high doses of vitamin C can achieve good results in Coronavirus patients. According to Todd Ellerin, MD at Harvard Health Publishing, there’s no evidence that “supplements, such as vitamin C, or probiotics will help speed recovery.” 

Similarly, taking supplements isn’t likely to help prevent or cure Coronavirus, reports the Washington Post.

That hasn’t stopped misinformation about the vitamin spreading, primarily based on a screenshot of a 'report' apparently featuring quotes from a doctor in a South Korean hospital, and someone claiming to be a physician in China who claim to have seen symptoms disappear from users who had taken it. This is being re-shared either word for word, or as a similar screenshot, while the quotes have been used in numerous online stories of outlets as well. 

It isn’t actually a verified statement from China's Xi'an Jiatong University Second Hospital, and doesn’t appear among the hospital's other Covid-19 news updates on the website.

The post in fact came from Andrew W Saul, the editor-in-chief of the Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, an alternative therapy unsupported by scientific evidence. One of the quotes in his press release has been attributed to Richard Z Cheng, who claims to be a doctor with links to vitamin C trials in China - and also involved in an Orthomolecular Medicine society. 

However, vitamin C is being examined in China for its potential benefits against coronavirus, with a clinical trial document from last month showing that studies were underway. The predicted completion date is September of this year, so vitamin C is not at the moment considered a viable treatment or cure.

The NHS and World Health Organisation have also confirmed that there is no specific cure to coronavirus yet.

People aren't using condoms on their fingers to protect against Coronavirus

Over the last week, multiple online tabloids produced stories claiming that people were using condoms on their fingers to protect from Coronavirus, with some of these stories reaching hundreds of thousands of people. This appears to have originated around a month ago, with an image circulating on Chinese social network Weibo, around February 6, of someone pressing a lift button with a condom on their finger.

Contextual clues suggest this was a genuine joke, but on February 7 an image of an empty condom stand in a Singapore supermarket appeared on Reddit, under a joke title that Singapore residents were using the quarantine to have sex instead. Reports differ on how widespread the shortage of condoms actually was, though there's certainly some photographic evidence to suggest some stores were running out.

Then the story picked up on February 12, when Durex Singapore responded to it's meme-worthy reputation during the quarantine with a joking Facebook post about using the product as protection when pressing buttons in lifts. This post was later removed.

Alistair Reid, editor of fact checking site First Draft highlighted how the picture many outlets used appeared to be taken from the Reddit thread, a month beforehand. This was combined with the previous images from around the internet, including edited versions of the durex ads, to put the various tabloid stories together.

One news story claims: "The latest [coronavirus protection] strategy allegedly sees people panic-buying packets of condoms to put them on their fingers to protect against the virus when pushing elevator buttons in buildings."

There's no evidence this is a widespread practice.

It's not a good idea to make your own hand sanitiser

In recent days, some people have been panic-buying and stockpiling hand sanitiser, and even profiteering on online sales sites. However, while hand sanitiser is effective, there's no requirement for it in place of hand-washing. Both the WHO and PHE confirm one of those most effective ways to stop the spread of Covid-19 is washing hands with soap. Hand sanitiser is an option if that isn't possible.

"Proper hand washing is the most effective method and this should be your first choice," explains PHE.

Despite this, the demand has continues which has led to shortages - a potential problem for people who rely on it for other reasons. This shortage has also led to dubious explanations of how to produce your own hand sanitiser.

The explanations seem to be inspired by a spike in search activity noticed by a range of outlets across the world, likely inspired by people discovering the shortage. Some outlets have responded to this with recipes, on the assumption that anything with more than 60% alcohol will be just as effective - but the evidence for that is limited.

Dr Jenna Macciochi, an immunologist based at Sussex University, said to HuffPo UK: "I wouldn’t try and make your own sanitiser at home. It’s not necessary for most people who have access to regular hand washing with soap and water, which is perfectly sufficient. [Homemade sanitiser] will most likely be less effective than ones that you can buy and have a known amount of alcohol in them."

Store bought hand sanitisers will also often have emollients to counter the harshness of the alcohol on the skin. Home made ones could risk hurting your hands as a result, Sally Bloomfield, a professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine told The Guardian.

The government doesn't recommend not shaking hands

Claims that the government recommended people not shaking hands are partially unfounded. An article in The Sun on Wednesday claimed that the NHS warned people to ban handshakes, but fact checking site Full Fact found this was not the case. PHE confirmed that the government were not limiting or even banning handshaking.

"We may get to a point where if we see more widespread infection we ask people to limit the social contact they have with each other," said Prof Paul Cosford, Emeritus Medical Director at PHE.

"This could include limiting everyday interaction, although we’re not there yet."

The initial story was following up a clip of a BBC Breakfast interview with GP Dr Rosemary Leonard and Leeds University virologist Stephen Griffin, in which Dr Leonard said: "When we all walked into the BBC this morning, the charming people at the desk were all shaking our hands. I know it’s very British and very polite, we probably ought to stop shaking hands."

This was not officially issued advice as was initially reported, however, and this advice has not yet changed.

The confusion has likely been further exacerbated by questioning of Prime Minister Boris Johnson over whether he personally would stop shaking hands. Asked by Philip Schofield on This Morning earlier this week, Mr. Johnson echoed official advice, saying: "I’ve been going around hospitals as you can imagine and always shake hands. People make their own decisions. Washing them is the key."

Children don't need to be removed from schools

Many groups have sprung up about Coronavirus, and as you might expect, many of them are concerned parents. A common suggestion is that parents should take their children out of schools.

(Facebook)

This isn't recommended advice. At the current levels, Coronavirus doesn't present an extensive enough threat to justify this, and while a small number of schools have been closed, this is due to specific instances of a pupil or a parent testing positive for Coronavirus.

For parents who had not travelled with children to a high risk country and were considering taking their children out of school because of Coronavirus, a spokesperson for PHE said "we wouldn't recommend it."

"Our advice in that situation is just to continue life as normal."

This post was updated to clarify the position of Mr Cheng.

[Grampa Dave]

“I’m shocked so many people aren’t getting this...”

Re, the nattering nannies on Free Republic, just laugh at their comments.

[CharlesWayneCT]

I spent a little time looking into the “S” and “L” issue.

So far as I can tell, there is nobody saying that we know facts about it. It is still too early. But the reports about studies from medical sources (rather than the “newsweek” type stories), suggests:

That “L” and “S” are not different enough to allow separate infections; sources say a vaccine should treat both as well.

That “L” is not particularly “worse” than “S”, the specualation is more that “L” became wider spread, so that’s what they saw a lot more of. Or that ‘L” is better at transmission, while “S” might be more stable, so we are treating people with “L” a lot more than “S”.

Viruses mutate a lot, and that is how we can track generations; most mutations are benign, some are bad for the virus. It is rare that a virus mutates during an outbreak in a way that becomes worse for humans. There are just too many factors; a single mutation can’t do it.

[Romans10 20]

Actually ascorbic acid ...vitamin C is involved in the production of interferon..Studies of MERV and SARS patients reveal the use of inhaled interferon and ribavirin early before titers appear decreased morbidity significantly These viruses effect the humoral and CMI system and early intervention allowed the innate immune system to respond ..Tetherin is first line defense keeping the virus from leaving the cell it requires interferon...increased by vitamin c..

[CharlesWayneCT]

We are always a month ahead in our TP supplies, so for us, it’s just our normal monthly Amazon purchase.

[CharlesWayneCT]

That is interesting. I am just doing the multi-vitamin thing, not considering supplements at this point. I do drink 4 oz of orange juice each day as well, and I guess I could drink some more milk each day.

[CharlesWayneCT]

I find the key is to put one pack of TP somewhere out-of-the-way That way, if we go to get the next one, and we find out we stupidly used the last one without re-ordering, we still have our emergency supply, and if we are not smart enough to order when we touch THAT one, we deserve what we get.

But I’m also ordering one of those ‘bidet’ things, I’ve heard good things about using a bidet anyway, and it would resolve the “out of toilet paper” issue. Heck, some countries that’s all they use, these bidet things.

[CharlesWayneCT]

The more important thing with hand sanitizer is — alchohol is not great for your hands.

And it takes a bit to actually “sanitize” a virus.

Washing with soap and water works not because it kills the virus, but because it actually washes it down the drain. Use a mild ph-balanced soap, and you can do this many times a day without hurting your skin. I’ve started using moisturizer just because the constant washing is a bit irritating anyway (lubriderm)

[kiryandil]

In general, an 8-ounce glass of milk contains at least 100 IUs of vitamin D, and a 6-ounce serving of yogurt contains 80 IUs, but the amount can be higher (or lower) depending on how much is added.

I believe the RDA of vitamin D is around 700-800 IUs.

You can see that you'd have to drink 6-8 cups of milk [1 1/2 quarts to a half gallon] to get your RDA.

I thought I was getting enough because I eat a lot of cheese - but it turns out that most cheeses don't have vitamin D in them...

[kiryandil]

An economical and excellent way to get Vitamin D is to go out in the sun during high sun time for 30 minutes.

Yep, I'm starting that regimen also.

[Grampa Dave]

Let us know how you are doing after about 2 weeks of this low cost therapy.

[Grampa Dave]

We buy our monthly supply from Costco and many other things on the so called anti germ category.

[kiryandil]

If I see or hear the phrase "fact check", I know that for the most part, I can safely ignore the "news" that follows.

"Fact checking" usually involves omitting salient facts that might change The Narrative that the writer is pushing, as we can see by your excellent points in response to the original article:

rightwingcrazy wrote -

“There’s no evidence ‘high-dose’ Vitamin C can stop Coronavirus” — not specifically, but there is evidence (albeit not definitive) that it reduces the severity of viral infections, generally.

“It’s not a good idea to make your own hand sanitiser” because of the lack of emollients, apparently. So, add emollients.

“The government doesn’t recommend not shaking hands”, but it may be a prudent measure in the future.

“Children don’t need to be removed from schools”, but they may need to be in the future.

[kiryandil]

Let us know how you are doing after about 2 weeks of this low cost therapy.

One of the issues with this in my case is that I inhabit what I call "the sub-arctic tundra".

Joking, of course - but you can't lay skin bare for another month here.

[kiryandil]

Simply Orange [probably pricey] has a version with calcium & vitamin D - 3mcg per 8 oz glass (you're probably sticking with the 4 oz glass because of the sugar?).

A 1000 IU D₃ supplement is 25mcg - (40 IU per mcg).

This puts the Simply Orange fortified 4 oz glass at 60 IU [1.5mcg].

Another thing about vitamin D supplements - taken with fat, it increases the absorption of D₃.

I always try to take mine with my heavy cream, eggs or bacon.

[Grampa Dave]

If you can be outside without your face being covered and hands for a few minutes that will probably work now.

[CharlesWayneCT]

in part, but also interestingly if you drink 4 oz of OJ, it counts as a fruit exchange, but if you drink 8 oz, it is dairy.

Hey, I don’t make up the exchange stuff, someone else does. :)

[kiryandil]

Hmmmmm....   

[null and void]

Of course!

[gleeaikin]

For years I have been using my elbow or a corner of my shirt or jacket to press buttons or open doors. Always use the wipes to clean grocery cart handles when they are available. Have not had a cold for years either.

[gleeaikin]

Please add me to your Bring Out Your Dead ping list. Thanks.