Search Results for covid-19

Cloth masks are effective at reducing virus transmission because it spreads in respiratory droplets, which are larger than smoke particles and the pores in fabric

When considering effective mechanisms for reducing virus transmission, it is the size of respiratory droplets—rather than the size of the virus itself—that needs to be considered. While viruses are smaller than smoke particles or the pores in the fabric of a cloth mask, viruses cannot travel in the air on their own and must be carried by respiratory droplets, which are much larger than smoke particles or pores in fabric. Therefore, cloth masks are effective at reducing virus transmission as they block respiratory droplets, but ineffective at reducing smoke particle transmission.

Adequate immunization and improved sanitation together protect against infection from both wild and vaccine-derived poliovirus

The oral polio vaccine contains a live but weakened form of the poliovirus, which does not cause infection. In areas with poor sanitization, however, the virus shed by vaccinated children can remain in the environment for long periods of time, and on rare occasions, regain its ability to cause disease. Since immunization protects against both the wild poliovirus and vaccine-derived polioviruses, full vaccination of 80-85% of the children can confer herd immunity and stop polio transmission. And improved sanitation can prevent the emergence of infectious vaccine-derived poliovirus strains.

Human DNA does not produce a positive result on the RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2

The reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR) test is the method of choice for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in samples and is highly specific for the virus. For a PCR test to successfully amplify nucleic acids (DNA or RNA) in a sample, it is necessary for a pair of primers, which are short sequences of single-stranded nucleic acids that recognize and bind to a specific region of the genome, to flank the same target sequence. If only one primer in the pair is able to do so, amplification does not take place and the test produces a negative result. Therefore, even when an RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 uses a primer that matches a human gene sequence, the test would not produce a positive result with human DNA alone because the other primer does not match the human gene sequence.

People infected with SARS-CoV-2 can transmit the virus to others, even if they do not show symptoms of the disease and are not considered sick

Scientific evidence indicates that about half of SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs before infected individuals experience any symptoms of COVID-19. Studies show that asymptomatic carriers, who are people that never develop symptoms of COVID-19, carry as much of the SARS-CoV-2 virus as symptomatic patients and can spread the virus if they do not take adequate measures, such as wearing masks or maintaining physical distance from others.

Contrary to claim in viral Facebook post, the flu vaccine does work and certain types of cancers can be cured

The flu vaccine helps to reduce the incidence and severity of influenza, although its effectiveness varies between seasons depending on the selection of the flu vaccine virus strains. Cancer is a complex family of diseases for which multiple forms of treatment are available, although the success of such treatments can vary significantly, depending on factors like the type and stage of the cancer. There are a proportion of cancer patients who have achieved complete remission after treatment and remain cancer-free for the rest of their lives, who are thereby considered to be cured. And while there is much we do not know about COVID-19, our prior knowledge of how vaccines work is sufficient to allow us to develop a potential vaccine against the disease.

Wearing masks aims at slowing SARS-CoV-2 circulation, not protecting against a certain death

In order to limit and eventually stop an ongoing epidemic, it is necessary to reduce virus transmission. Wearing face masks has been shown to be effective at slowing the circulation of respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2. Some individuals who do not wear masks may still remain healthy because exposure to SARS-CoV-2 does not automatically lead to infection or death. In addition, the use of masks by others within the community can also limit virus transmission, thereby protecting those who do not wear masks, similar to the herd immunity effect

Baseless speculations underpin a retracted editorial claiming spontaneous generation of SARS-CoV-2 in skin cells exposed to 5G waves

The proposed mechanism of action described in the claim that 5G millimeter waves can generate SARS-CoV-2 in human cells violates fundamental principles of biology. Scientific evidence does not support a causal relationship between 5G and COVID-19. Many of the regions with the highest COVID-19 infection rates, such as Brazil, do not have 5G coverage, providing further evidence that 5G is not associated with the pandemic.

Sexual transmission of SARS-CoV-2 currently unconfirmed as studies produce conflicting evidence of its presence in the reproductive system

COVID-19 transmission occurs primarily through contact with respiratory droplets produced by infected individuals, but the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in body fluids such as semen has raised questions about alternative modes of transmission. Potential sexual transmission of the disease would necessitate amending current prevention protocols, so several studies have investigated whether the virus is present in the reproductive system. However, small sample sizes and poor study designs have produced contradictory results that do not provide sufficient evidence for determining whether infectious virus is present in the genitourinary tract and also what effects it might have on reproduction.

A trypsin-based oral spray reportedly deactivates SARS-CoV-2 in a liquid suspension but has not yet been tested in the mouth

Some studies suggest that trypsin-containing solutions may speed wound healing and can deactivate certain viruses in vitro, but only a few clinical studies have tested such solutions in humans. These studies demonstrate mild improvement of common cold symptoms caused by different coronaviruses. However, the mechanism of action of the sprays is still unclear and no in vivo data is available to support the hypothesis that trypsin-based sprays might also work against SARS-CoV-2 as implied in the video.

Infant deaths did not decrease during the pandemic due to a reduced use of vaccines; vaccines are not associated with sudden infant death syndrome

Vaccines are safe and scientific studies have found no association between vaccination and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Blaxill and Becker’s report is based on incomplete data, as they did not account for the lag time that occurs between a death and its reporting to the U.S. CDC. Their findings that child deaths have significantly decreased compared to previous years are therefore spurious and premature. The duo also failed to account for other factors which may have contributed to changes in child mortality, such as stay-at-home orders, which would have limited the spread of other infectious diseases besides COVID-19.