5 most read COVID myths we debunked in April

Amidst the sudden spike in infections and a struggle for access to treatment, there is a surge in misinformation about COVID-19. Here are our 5 popular COVID-19 myths we debunked in April.

Misinformation thrives in times of crises when perpetrators of myths capitalize on the lingering fear in society.  

India’s second wave of COVID-19 infections has seen new vectors of misinformation come to light.

Here are 5 COVID-19 myths that we debunked in April 2020:

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  Empty nebulisers can be used as a substitute for oxygen tanks

The rumor surfaced on WhatsApp through a video recording of a doctor demonstrating how an empty nebuliser can be used as a replacement for oxygen tanks that are currently under severe shortage in the national capital.

The hospital that the doctor claimed to be associated with came out and clarified that it had no association with the person in the video, and verified the claim, stating that it is not based on scientific evidence.

Read our fact-check story here.

• Women should not take the COVID-19 vaccine during menstruation

The myth was quick to gain traction on social media, and dominated online searches. An image from where it originated reasoned that women face low immunity during their menstruation, and could, therefore reduce their ability to build antibodies post-vaccination.

The myth was fact-checked by our network of doctors, who clarified that there is no link between menstruation and vaccinations.

  Read our fact-check story here.

• The COVID-19 vaccine can cause a cardiac arrest

A Facebook post that made the claim cited an incident in Karnataka that involved the death of a public health officer from cardiac arrest after being vaccinated. The State Health Department verified that the cause of death was due to pre-existing health conditions including high blood pressure and diabetes which led to cardiac arrest, confirming that the case could not be attributed to the vaccine.

The safety of the COVID-19 vaccine for those with preexisting conditions has been an avenue for misinformation, despite several clarifications issued by health authorities that the vaccine is safe for these populations.

Read our fact-check story here.

• A steam inhalation drive to cure coronavirus

Rumors promoting inhaling steam as a preventative measure for COVID were widely promoted during the outbreak in 2020. These rumors have unfortunately resurfaced during the current surge in infections. 

A message promoting a steam inhalation drive as a low-cost, no side-effect precaution to prevent coronavirus was widely shared on WhatsApp. However, organizations including the World Health Organization and the Centers for Diseases control in the US have debunked the claim previously.

Read our fact-check story here.

• On the man-made origins of COVID-19

Myths tracing the origins of the virus in a laboratory resurfaced in April. A Facebook post citing Japanese Nobel laureate Tasuku Honjo as saying that the virus originated in a laboratory in China was circulated across over 400 Facebook groups. In India, the story was altered to have originated in an Israel laboratory. 

A statement debunking the rumor was issued by Dr Honjo and fact-checked by our team.

Read our fact-check story here.

FirstCheck and HealthLEADS are committed to ensuring that people have access to the right information. If you would like us to fact-check a claim, email us at editor.haindia@gmail.com.