One sure way to get the rumor mill churning is to find yourself in the middle of a pandemic. The Coronavirus pandemic have had people running for answers about the best ways to stay safe and to prevent the further spread of the virus, whilst this can seem like a positive, the advice given is often from many opportunists and newcomers to market which in the end, does more harm than good.
During any pandemic, it is important to know the facts and to dispel misinformation in order to protect yourself and those around you.
At Sprinkle Spray we have been disinfecting since 2016, offering fogging services and professional advice when it comes to effective germ control, an important asset to have during a pandemic such as Covid-19.
With the above in mind, we would like to address 6 myths that have been circulating on social media.
Myth 1: Surgical Masks will Protect you from Covid-19
The main use of a mask is to stop a cough or sneeze from infecting other people. In general a mask does nothing to protect the wearer from any virus. Whilst it is recommended to wear a mask, it is by no means a free pass to stop practicing other safety precautions, such as washing hands, monitoring temperatures, hand
sanitizing, disinfecting regularly, etc.
Myth 2: You will know if you Have the Virus
Actually, Covid-19 is especially insidious because most infected people won't know they have it. The virus has an average incubation period of 5 - 6 days, but it can be as long as 14 days, during this incubation period, the infected person is still highly contagious, which is what makes this virus so difficult for officials to track and contain. Some people can even be highly contagious and asymptomatic, meaning they will not show symptoms but are still capable of spreading it to others. This is why self-quarantine is so crucial and why so many industries have either shut down entirely or are implementing remote work policies.
Myth 3: Heat Kills the Virus
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "heat at 56℃ kills the SARS Coronavirus at around 10 000 units per 15 min." The SARS Coronavirus behaves similarly to Covid-19, which leads experts to believe that the Novel Coronavirus would have a similar fate at that temperature. Drinking tea, taking a bath or sitting in a sauna will not change your internal body temperature; and if you did have an internal temperature of 56℃, you’d be long gone. Once the virus is inside your body, there is simply no way to kill it — your immune system has to fight it off. In addition, since outdoor temperatures rarely reach anywhere near 56℃, experts do not believe that warmer weather will have any significant impact on Covid-19.
Myth 4: Washing your Hands with Soap and Water won't Help
There are rumors that since Covid-19 is a virus and not a bacteria, antibacterial soap will not kill the virus, however, this is simply not true. According to a professor of chemistry at the University of New South Wales, Sydney Pall Thordarson:
"...the virus is a self-assembled nanoparticle in which the weakest link is the lipid (fatty) bilayer. Soap dissolves the fat membrane and the virus falls apart like a house of cards and dies or rather we should say it becomes inactive as viruses aren't really alive."
The combination of soapy water and vigorous rubbing will essentially disassemble the virus’ building blocks as well as dissolve the “sticky” part that causes the virus to adhere to human skin. That is why it is important to wash your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.
Myth 5: Covid-19 can be Transmitted via Mosquito Bites
With mosquito season around the corner, many people wonder if Covid-19 can be transmitted through mosquito bites. The Coronavirus is a respiratory virus which spreads mainly through droplets of an infected person when he/she sneezes or coughs. Mosquitoes are genetically different from humans. For a virus to be passed on through a mosquito or other insect bite, the virus must be able to replicate inside the mosquito. No type of Coronavirus has been able to do that to date.
According to Emily Gallichotte a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology at Colorado State University:
“SARS-CoV2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) is a respiratory virus that is almost exclusively contained within the lungs and respiratory tract of infected people, and rarely gets into the blood,”
Myth 6: The Prolonged use of a Mask can lead to CO2 Intoxication
Whilst the prolonged use of masks can be uncomfortable, it does not lead to CO2 intoxication nor oxygen deficiency. Always ensure that your mask fits properly and can still allow you to breathe normally. Never re-use a disposable mask and always change any disposable mask if it gets damp. Wash cloth
masks regularly and always follow the manufacturer's guidelines on how to take care of your mask.
For more myth busting facts, check out: https://tinyurl.com/mythbusterscovid19.
Contact Sprinkle Spray to ensure that your facility remains protected against 99.999% of germs. Our disinfectant has been tested against Covid-19 (sars-cov-2) with a valid test report. It is one of the first disinfectants worldwide with proven efficacy against Covid-19. We offer once off and weekly fogging services and believe that Prevention is Better than Cure. We have been disinfecting various facilities since 2016 and some of our clients include, Spar Retail Stores, West Pack, Food Lover's Market, The SAPS, The Gauteng Provincial Government, Curro Schools, Visionworks Optometrists and many more.
Don't risk your safety, join hands with Sprinkle Spray.