Coronavirus myth-busting: Doctors urge people not to listen to dangerous rumours online
By ITV Cymru Wales reporter Charanpreet Khaira
Doctors in Wales are warning about the dangerous myths surrounding coronavirus.
Rumours spread to beat the disease include putting onions in every room to claims that blowing a hairdryer up your nose will rid you of the infection.
The UK Government today announced the creation of a new committee to investigate fake news being spread on social media about the disease.
We asked our viewers what rumours they'd heard about the disease - and put those questions to a GP in Caerphilly, Dr David Bailey.
Can my pet give me coronavirus?
No - you won't get coronavirus from your pet, unless your pet happens to be a snake from China!
Can I get a rescue pack from my GP?
We've been getting lots of requests for rescue packs - even from people who only have mild asthma, or had asthma symptoms years ago.
There's no evidence that this is helpful - and steroids could even be harmful in dealing with this disease!
So we would only advise rescue packs for those with severe COPD.
Should I take paracetamol to avoid getting coronavirus? What about Vitamin C, or Zinc?
No, no, and no. It is sensible to take paracetamol if you have a fever - but there is no evidence that it will stop you from getting coronavirus.
Vitamin C is good for your immunity generally - but there is no evidence that it would stop you getting the illness.
Can I kill coronavirus with heat? I have heard you can sip hot water, or blow a hairdryer up your nose.
Absolutely not. You can blow a hairdryer up your nose all day if you like - it won't make any difference at all.
Where do the myths come from?
Facebook and Twitter have cracked down on fake news, instead promoting information from Governments and the WHO.
But even the social media giants can’t control WhatsApp, where messages are encrypted, or private groups on Facebook, that have sprung up to give people vital support.
Lots of these have sprung up in Wales to respond to the crisis - and they can be hard to police.
One rumour being spread online claims to be a message from staff at Prince of Wales Hospital.
It says you can test for the virus by holding your breath - it recommends doing this every morning to help detect infection and it even goes on to suggest gargling with disinfectant solutions.
The rumour mill might be people’s response to worry but it can be dangerous.
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