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Fact Check: No, UNICEF did not issue this viral ‘Coronavirus advisory’

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Amid the outbreak of Coronavirus, an ‘advisory’ message by UNICEF is being circulated online.

In the notice, several guidelines are mention as preventive steps against coronavirus.

ALSO READ: Fact Check: This viral advisory on COVID-19 has not been issued…

FACT CHECK

NewsMobile fact-checked the above post and found that UNICEF has not released any such guidelines.

In a statement released on March 6, 2020, UNICEF said, “…Misinformation during times of a health crisis can spread paranoia, fear, and stigmatization. It can also result in people being left unprotected or more vulnerable to the virus.”

In the viral post, the logo of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) is also visible. We checked their official social media and found a tweet where they have clarified that no such statement was issued by them.

“With reference to the image circulated regarding the coronavirus, we would like to clarify that no such notification was issued by IISc. The official awareness poster circulated on campus is below,” the tweet read.

Furthermore, we also checked the individual points of the guidelines and found that some of them are not true.

  • Coronavirus (Covid-19) is large in size where the cell diameter is 400-500 micro and for this reason, any mask prevents its entry.

According to WHO, masks are just a preventive step. The virus can also enter through eyes, hence, they recommended washing hands regularly along with other precautions.  Moreover, the size of the virus is yet to be discovered.

  • The virus does not settle in the air but is grounded so it is not transmitted by air.

The above fact is unproven. The virus can spread through cough and sneeze droplets in the air. Hence, it advised maintaining distance from a sick person.

  • Coronavirus when it falls on a metal surface, it will live 12 hours, so washing hands with soap and water well enough.

WHO says that it is “not certain how long the virus that causes COVID-19 survives on surfaces….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.”

  • Coronavirus, when it falls on the fabric, remains 9 hours, so washing clothes or being exposed to the sun for two hours meets the purpose of killing it.

Since Covid-19 is a new virus strain, such points are yet to be discovered about this new strain to coronavirus.

  • Coronavirus lives on the hands for 10 minutes, so putting an alcohol sterilizer in the pocket meets the purpose of prevention.

It is still unclear as to how long this virus survives on any given surface. However, WHO recommends washing hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water, Regularly and thoroughly as it kills viruses that may be on your hands.

 

  • If the virus is exposed to a temperature of 26-27ºC. It will be killed, as it does not live in hot regions. Also drinking hot water and sun exposure will do the trick and staying away from ice cream and cold food is advised.

The above fact is yet to be proven. In their statement, UNICEF has said, “For example, a recent erroneous online message circulating in several languages around the world and purporting to be a UNICEF communication appears to indicate, among other things, that avoiding ice cream and other cold foods can help prevent the onset of the disease. This is, of course, wholly untrue.

  • Gargle with warm and saltwater kills the tonsils germs and prevents them from leaking into the lungs.

As per WHO, there is no evidence that saline can protected people from infection with the new coronavirus.

The above information proves that the viral post was never issued by UNICEF. Moreover, most of the points in the advisory are either partly false or are yet to be proven.

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