Amid soaring COVID-19 cases and deaths related to the novel coronavirus, an image carrying a number of tests and home remedies to detect and treat COVID-19 has surfaced on social media platforms.
A Twitter user shared the image with a caption saying, “Dear All, plz follow the home remedy to fight covid.”
“These days every person with a cold and cough is being tested COVID19 positive. That’s why do not get involved in all these affairs, do these three tests at home,” reads the post.
The post further claims that if a person can smell the fragrance of a flower, taste the sweetness of jaggery, and hold breath for 30 seconds, then that person is not infected with COVID-19.
A Facebook user shared the image with a caption in Hindi that can be roughly translated to, “Friends, I am telling you all the local ways and medicines that are always useful at home and regularly used in tea, etc. to avoid COVID-19. If you all do this, then there will be no possibility of you getting infected with COVID-19.”
Similar posts can be found here, here, and here.
FACT CHECK
NewsMobile fact-checked the above post and found the claims to be misleading.
Claim – If a person having a cold and cough, can smell, taste, and hold breath for 30 seconds, then that person is not infected with COVID-19.
Verdict – False
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people who have flu-like symptoms or people who have had close contact with someone with confirmed COVID-19 should go for the test.
According to both, the World Health Organization and CDC, fever, chills, and cough are symptoms of COVID-19.
CDC states that Influenza (flu) and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses and they have similar symptoms and that it is difficult to tell the difference based on symptoms alone. However, people infected with COVID-19 can show specific symptoms (loss of smell and taste) as early as 2 days or as late as 14 days after infection.
Moreover, no health organization has stated that if a person has a cold or cough but can taste, smell, and hold breath for 30 seconds, then that person can be considered COVID-19 negative.
Similar posts have earlier gone viral claiming that if a person can hold breath for over 10 seconds, then that person doesn’t have COVID-19. WHO has already refuted this claim stating that “Being able to hold your breath for 10 seconds or more without coughing or feeling discomfort DOES NOT mean you are free from the coronavirus disease or any other lung disease.”
NewsMobile has earlier debunked a similar claim that can be found here.
https://newsmobile.in/articles/2021/04/28/fact-check-can-this-breathing-test-diagnose-covid-19-heres-the-truth/
Claim – Using ginger and black pepper can cure COVID- 19
Verdict – Misleading
We found that the usage of black pepper, ginger, or honey is only for boosting immunity and these cannot prevent COVID-19 infection.
World Health Organization provides a section for dealing with misinformation. There we found that there is no evidence to suggest that black pepper or garlic can protect coronavirus disease.
However, some guidelines were released by the Ministry of Ayush providing some immunity-boosting measures for self-care during the COVID-19 from Ayurveda. The guidelines claimed that the usage of black pepper, ginger, or honey can boost immunity.
NewsMobile also debunked the same claim in April 2021.
https://newsmobile.in/articles/2021/04/24/fact-check-black-pepper-honey-ginger-can-not-cure-coronavirus-claim-is-false/
Claim – Vegetarian diet can help in the prevention of COVID- 19
Verdict – Misleading
The post also promotes a vegetarian diet stating that it can help in prevention from COVID-19. However, PIB Fact Check has earlier clarified that presently, no conclusion can be drawn based on the serological studies that a vegetarian diet prevents COVID 19 infection.
The same was fact-checked by NewsMobile earlier.
https://newsmobile.in/articles/2021/04/28/fact-check-has-csir-study-said-smokers-vegetarians-are-less-likely-to-contract-covid-19-heres-the-truth/
The post also provides some correct information by advising people to wash their hands frequently and to wear masks when going out and to also follow a healthy diet. However, other claims made in the post are false or only partially true.
Therefore, the viral post advising people the three tests to know whether they are infected with COVID-19 is misleading.
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