DISINFORMATION REPORT - POPULAR MYTHS On
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DISINFORMATION
REPORT
On
POPULAR MYTHS
© Citispotter Limited (UK) 2020
Cranfield Eagle Lab,
Medway House,
Cranfield University MK43 0AL
Registered Office: 114 High Street, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, MK43 0DG, United Kingdom
www.citispotter.com
Contents
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................2
Page | 1
MYTH 01:..................................................................................................................................................3
Eating garlic can help prevent COVID 19 infection ..................................................................................3
MYTH 02:..................................................................................................................................................5
Drinking water every 15 minutes to flush out coronavirus virus from the body ....................................5
MYTH 03:..................................................................................................................................................7
Drinking lemon juice will help to fight the coronavirus ..........................................................................7
MYTH 04:..................................................................................................................................................9
Drinking hot water and exposure to the sun will kill the Covid19 virus ..................................................9
MYTH 05:................................................................................................................................................11
Drinking cow urine will protect us from corona virus. ..........................................................................11
MYTH 06:................................................................................................................................................13
Drinkable silver solution kills some strains of coronavirus within 12 hours .........................................13
MYTH 07:................................................................................................................................................15
Hand dryers can kill Covid-19 ................................................................................................................15
MYTH 08:................................................................................................................................................17
Social distancing doesn’t apply to young and healthy citizens .............................................................17
MYTH 09:................................................................................................................................................19
Steam therapy kills corona-virus ...........................................................................................................19
MYTH 10:................................................................................................................................................21
Corona virus is spread by Corona beer ..................................................................................................21
Citispotter Limited (UK) ©2020
INTRODUCTION
We are living in a post-truth world, where beliefs, Page | 2
emotions, and nature of the news dominate facts
and evidence. There is a sharp decline in the
latitude of acceptance of the consumers of news
and what people, nowadays, accept as news is
profoundly influenced by their pre-existing beliefs
and emotions, and which has been acutely
amplified during this pandemic of Covid-19.
With the enormous number of stories being
disseminated on a daily basis, social media
platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp
have become a single point news source for a vast
populace online.
In this report, we have tried to track down the ten
most shared myths about coronavirus (COVID-19)
and busted them with a credible fact-checking
mechanism. With this exercise, we want to promote
research and fact-based news consumption habits
among news readers and hope to bring clarity about
topics related to Covid-19.
Citispotter Limited (UK) ©2020
MYTH 01:
Eating garlic can help prevent COVID 19
infection Page | 3
Every day new ways to save yourself from the coronavirus is released
online. And no one has time to think before acting on it. So, we plan
to take pro-active actions to refute the lie that garlic can help in
preventing coronavirus.
We have crossed checked the statement "Eating garlic can help
prevent COVID 19 infection" from various credible sources such as
WHO and Harvard website. None on the source says that garlic is
effective in COVID 19 fight, but is a healthy choice.
So please do not follow anything before verifying its facts. That is
what we are doing to fight against COVID 19 misinformation which
is freely circulated online.
Citispotter Limited (UK) ©2020
Claims Source:
• https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/india-center/myths-vs-facts/
• https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-
public/myth-busters
Page | 4
• https://factcheck.afp.com/experts-say-eating-garlic-does-not-prevent-covid-19-and-onions-
are-no-cure-either
• https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-51799426
Citispotter Limited (UK) ©2020
MYTH 02:
Drinking water every 15 minutes to flush out
coronavirus virus from the body Page | 5
In current Covid pandemic, lot of rumour mongering happening over
internet about claims that can cure corona virus. These talks do not
have factual relevance, but still getting popular among people,
because people do not fact check the news and start blindly following
them as rituals. This poses a greater threat as people starts believing
in them, they may avoid taking the necessary precautions and be at a
greater risk of catching the virus.
One of such claims, is rapidly circulated on the net is “Drinking water
in every 15 minutes would flush out the virus”. Logic proposed
behind the same act is that, as more and more water would be
consumed, the water will wash the virus down the oesophagus and
the stomach acid will kill the virus.
Kalpana Sabapathy, a clinical epidemiologist at the London School of
Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, has explained why the water
technique doesn't make sense. She said, once the virus affects different
Citispotter Limited (UK) ©2020
parts of our body, flushing out some amount of virus will not have
any impact.
Moreover, gastric acid in our stomach has a pH level between 1 and
3, so the virus may not get killed immediately. After the outbreak of Page | 6
MERS from Saudi Arabia in 2012, research showed, the pathogen,
which was a close relative of Covid-19 is quite resistant to diluted
acid. So, the water technique is not based on science and more of a
“wobbly theory”.
Thus, based on scientific research and facts, as well as reports
published by BBC and express.co.uk, the claim “Drinking water every
15 minutes to flush out coronavirus that might have entered the
mouth” stands FALSE.
Claims Source:
• https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200319-covid-19-will-drinking-water-keep-you-safe-
from-coronavirus
• https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1258204/coronavirus-cure-drinking-warm-
water-help-cure-coronavirus
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOE6Fv6F8Dw
Citispotter Limited (UK) ©2020
MYTH 03:
Drinking lemon juice will help to fight the
coronavirus Page | 7
A message on social media was being circulated, that suggested the
use of lemon in protecting ourselves from Covid-19 as well as
speaking of its utility in treating Cancer.
A widely circulated message which suggested that “Use of lemon juice
can protect from coronavirus”. But in the Boom Live report, that
mentioned that “consuming a high amount of vitamin C has never
proved effective against coronavirus”. And lemon is a good source of
vitamin C.
A WHO spokesperson regarding the matter told Reuters “There are
no specific treatments for COVID-19 and treatment is based on
clinical presentation. Most cases are mild and self-limiting and
Citispotter Limited (UK) ©2020
treated symptomatically”. And as the WHO denied any specific
treatment existing which protects us from Covid-19, it again
emphasises on the only effective ways being washing hands with
soaps or alcohol-based cleansers, cleaning surfaces, staying at home
if sick and using masks. Page | 8
Even BBC took a step regarding debunking the myth of the use of
lemons against Covid-19 and mentions about it having no utility
against killing the virus
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alo1kLQXaf4)
Hence, the claim “Drinking lemon juice will help to fight the
coronavirus” is not based on any evidence, thus shouldn’t be trusted.
The claim stands FALSE.
Claims Source:
• https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-coronavirus-alkaline/false-claim-
bicarbonate-soda-and-lemon-juice-can-help-prevent-coronavirus-infection-
idUSKBN20X2BV
• https://www.boomlive.in/world/coronavirus/drinking-warm-water-with-lemon-
does-not-protect-you-from-coronavirus-7204
• https://www.bbc.com/news/av/52093412/coronavirus-more-health-myths-to-
ignore
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TfmX1QsWaw
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alo1kLQXaf4
Citispotter Limited (UK) ©2020MYTH 04:
Drinking hot water and exposure to the sun Page | 9
will kill the Covid19 virus
As the pandemic erupted, one of the earliest claims which became
popular among people was “Coronavirus will die in Sunlight”.
However, as from January to May, the temperatures changed, there
was no difference seen, and clearly, the virus survived well in the
heat.
WHO has said in response to this claim “You can catch COVID-19,
no matter how sunny or hot the weather is” and exposing yourself to
temperatures higher than 25 degrees C, will not kill the virus either.
Claims regarding the novel coronavirus in relation to the utility of
warm water in killing the virus have come out as well. However,
drinking warm water may have benefits of its own, yet it does not
have the potency to kill the virus, as the water consumed will not be
hot enough to kill it in the respiratory tract, confirms BBC.
Citispotter Limited (UK) ©2020Thus, the claim “Drinking hot water and exposure to the sun will kill
the Covid19 virus” stands FALSE.
Claims Source: Page | 10
• https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-
public/myth-busters
• https://www.bbc.com/news/world-51735367
• https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200323-coronavirus-will-hot-weather-kill-
covid-19
Citispotter Limited (UK) ©2020MYTH 05:
Drinking cow urine will protect us from corona
virus. Page | 11
As Hindus are known to worship cows as their mothers, their faith
believes in drinking cow urine as a holy act which boosts their
immunity and benefits the body. However, the practice did not limit
to a religious faith alone when scientists have come forth and
approved the belief. Since cow urine called “Goumutra” in Hindi has
indeed got health benefits, it has been proven Goumutra consumption
does help in curbing diseases like obesity, high blood pressure, etc.
Cow is a sacred animal in India. Hindus worship cows, and their faith
believes that drinking cow’s urine can boost their immunity and
benefits to the body. However, the practice did not limit to religious
faith, and scientists have come forth and approved the belief. Since
cow urine called “Goumutra” in Hindi has indeed got health benefits,
Citispotter Limited (UK) ©2020it has been proven Goumutra consumption does help in curbing
diseases like obesity, high blood pressure, etc.
Adhering to the same faith, after the Covid-19 outbreak, a group of
people organised a “Goumutra party” to fight against Covid-19 and
Page | 12
also claimed it to be a solution against the virus
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi9OdFmHb9E). However,
none of the claims are statistically proven.
And, as the WHO says “there is no specific medicine recommended to
prevent or treat the new coronavirus.”, there should be no speculation
regarding Goumutra to be the solution against Covid-19.
The BBC (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F3KHb_1bkw&t=67s) and
The Telegraph India are among those who have busted the myth and
brought the truth forward. Thus, the claim stands FALSE.
Citispotter Limited (UK) ©2020MYTH 06:
Drinkable silver solution kills some strains of
coronavirus within 12 hours Page | 13
A guest on televangelist Jim Bakker’s show, Dr. Sherrill Selman said
that a silver solution available on Bakker’s website can help boost our
immunities, as well as make us less susceptible to the virus. She also
said that silver hasn’t been tested on the novel coronavirus yet on
other strains of the virus, it wipes it out within 12 hours.
According to BBC, this idea was further spread on social media by
“medical freedom groups” consequently making a lot of people
question about the medical establishment and trying out the silver
solution which Bakker sells for $125.
Yet, BBC reports there are instructions from the US health authorities
about not consuming the silver solution. The US Health authorities
have said , the silver colloidal solution has no known benefits taken to
the body through the mouth. They also said, silver is not an essential
dietary substance. They’ve clearly advised to not consume it as no
credible research has shown it’s utility in dealing with the virus.
(https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/colloidal-silver)
Citispotter Limited (UK) ©2020Thus, the claim “Drinkable silver solution kills some strains of
coronavirus within 12 hours” stands FALSE.
Claims Source:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-YdsucT9hc Page | 14
• https://www.newsweek.com/televangelist-show-guest-promotes-silver-solution-
cure-coronavirus-1487069
• https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-51735367
• https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/colloidal-silver
Citispotter Limited (UK) ©2020MYTH 07:
Hand dryers can kill Covid-19
Page | 15
The school of thought a higher temperature would kill the novel
coronaviruses began, ever since its outbreak. From myths such as
Covid-19 will not last in summer, taking a hot bath would kill
covid-19 to hand dryers being the curb. However, none of it has
been proved and when the temperature rose in various countries,
there was no difference in the spreading speed of the virus.
Myth of using hand dryers for the same purpose of killing the virus
has already been debunked by WHO, The Reuters, BBC, China Daily,
Daily Mail, etc. as the WHO recommends “an alcohol-based hand
rub or soap is the most effective way of killing the virus and should
later be wiped with a towel or tissue.” Thus, alternatives such as the
usage of hand-dryers for killing the virus shouldn’t prevail.
Citispotter Limited (UK) ©2020WGN news recommends the use of hand dryers after cleaning hands
with alcohol based cleanser or soap
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPXlkzmAoQI).
Hence, the claim “hand dryers kill coronavirus” are FALSE.
Page | 16
Claims Source:
• https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-
public/myth-busters
• https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-fiction-idUSKCN22635N
• https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-8004761/Hand-dryers-wont-kill-
coronavirus-World-Health-Organization-debunk-10-biggest-myths.html
• https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202002/10/WS5e40f8a6a310128217276537.html
• https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/coronavirus-world-health-
organisation-debunk-21507720
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPXlkzmAoQI
Citispotter Limited (UK) ©2020MYTH 08:
Social distancing doesn’t apply to young and
healthy citizens Page | 17
SOURCE: pixabay.com
As Covid-19 started spreading out of China, one of the initial
measures that were asked to be taken by the World Health
Organisation (WHO) in all the countries was “social distancing”,
although later the WHO recommended the use of the term “physical
distancing” over “social distancing”, the implication of the same
hasn’t changed (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK3SBIx1Cl4).
We are well aware of the fact that Covid-19 is spread through water
droplets which an infected person may let out while talking, a
physical contact or through a contaminated surface, “social
distancing (technically physical distancing)” is seen as the greatest
preventative measure which an individual could take against the
virus.
Many countries worldwide have imposed a lockdown in their
respective states, where people are required to stay at home with strict
restrictions and not to step out of their houses, so they can be
prevented from catching the virus.
Citispotter Limited (UK) ©2020BBC also talks about the importance of social distancing as “…to
reduce pressure on health services”
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYQjssb7xdk)
Nevertheless, WHO has recently said that “Older people, and people
Page | 18
with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart
disease) appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with
the virus.” and in no way it has ever mentioned that younger people
are not at risk. Even the young and the healthy may catch the virus
and thus need to take the respective measures prescribed for
prevention.
Thus, there is no question why the young and the healthy should not
follow “physical distancing” as along with a personal risk, each
person holds potency to be a carrier of the virus and infect every
person he comes in contact with. So, the claim “Social distancing
doesn’t apply to young and healthy citizens.” stands FALSE.
Claims Source:
• https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/15/world/social-distancing-language-change-
trnd/index.html
• https://in.reuters.com/news/picture/social-distancing-to-prevent-coronavirus-
idUSRTS36J9R
• https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-ireland-idUSKCN21V1TG
• https://globalnews.ca/news/6717166/what-is-physical-distancing/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYQjssb7xdk
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SSYviES-rI
Citispotter Limited (UK) ©2020MYTH 09:
Steam therapy kills corona-virus
Page | 19
A lot of social media users have been sharing posts which claim that
the novel coronavirus can be killed by steam therapy. According to
these claims as hot water would enter our nasal cavities, it will kill the
virus and the same will happen as it reaches the throat. Many variants
of the claim is shared, a few suggest ingredients should be added in
the boiling water before the steam enters, such as herbs, lemons,
peppermint oil, etc.
Steam therapy is known to be helpful to a person, providing him relief
by thinning the mucus when he is suffering from cold or flu. Yet,
neither the WHO nor U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) have prescribed the steam therapy to cure coronavirus.
The American Burn Association has explained the water, even much
below the boiling temperature, may cause burns to the skin.
(http://ameriburn.org/wp-
content/uploads/2018/12/nbaw2019_statsdataresources_120618-1.pdf).
Citispotter Limited (UK) ©2020The Reuters has confirmed, steam may provide a relief from the cold
or flu however, it cannot kill the virus. Hence, the claim stands FALSE.
Claims Source: Page | 20
• https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-steam-kills-coronavirus-
idUSKBN21H2LK
• http://ameriburn.org/wp-
content/uploads/2018/12/nbaw2019_statsdataresources_120618-1.pdf
Citispotter Limited (UK) ©2020MYTH 10:
Corona virus is spread by Corona beer
Page | 21
Amidst the Covid-19 outbreak there have been a lot of speculation of
news, time and again, often manipulated and brought forth in front
of people. There has been another rumour-mongering about people’s
belief in the link between ‘Corona Beer’ and ‘Corona virus’. Although
people have passed comments on social media regarding the same
being a joke, nevertheless it’s important to know the grounds behind
the peddling.
There have been two prominent episodes on the international level,
one being “Corona Beer Stops Production in Mexico ” as The Quint
reports whereas the other being “38% Americans will not drink
Corona beer” says New York Post. Both of these reports convey, the
fear of corona beer against the coronavirus does exist. Howbeit, it has
been made very clear by the Corona beer company, “there is no
relation between Corona Beer and Covid-19”
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8wjZabYBsE). Moreover, the
Corona beer has been prevailing in the market way before the
outbreak of the pandemic.
Citispotter Limited (UK) ©2020Although, more than the problem of perception the two major
international episodes related to the Corona Beer need to be digged
into, in detail. As the Reuters, the Quint have reported about Mexico
stopping Corona Beer production
(https://in.reuters.com/video/watch/idOVC7Y0ARV) it also needs Page | 22
to be noted, the same wasn’t banned because the country anticipated
a link between the beer and the virus, yet put it under the category of
“non essentials” and hence felt the production was avoidable in the
pandemic situation. Hence, there remains no question regarding
Mexico fearing the Corona beer. Since, it is not true.
Second, the news regarding 38% American avoiding Corona Beer was
actually regarding beer as a drink in general and not particularly
Corona Beer, reports Republic World. Survey was conducted on just
737 beer drinkers. Out of this set of people on 4% said they will not
drink Corona Beer in particular.
Hence, the myth arose because of incomplete headlines and shouldn’t
prevail at all as the Corona Beer company clarified too. Hence, the
claim “Corona beer carries Coronavirus is FALSE.”
Claims Source:
• https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/us-news/38-percent-americans-
refuse-to-buy-corona-beer-amid-coronavirus-outbreak.html
• https://www.thequint.com/neon/social-buzz/corona-beer-stops-production-in-
mexico-in-light-of-new-rules-set-by-the-state
• https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-constellation-idUSKCN20M37H
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8wjZabYBsE
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Page | 24
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Acknowledgement
We would like to acknowledge the energy, enthusiasm and technical skills of our
team that made this report possible.
Fact collection, content writing and editing: Smiti Joshi; Editing: Shrinidhi Choragi
and Paritosh Katre
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