Top 5 Facts About COVID-19

TOP 5 FACTS ABOUT COVID-19

      1. FACT: You can’t catch coronavirus from your pet.

“Right now the CDC says there’s no evidence that pets, livestock, or wildlife can transmit the disease to humans, but we’re still unsure if humans can pass it on to their pets,” says Dr. Dasgupta. “I have two amazing dogs, and my advice, if you’re sick, is to avoid snuggling your animals and keep them at a safe distance without completely isolating them from you, because that’s not good for them either!”

2.FACT: The coronavirus pandemic won’t end once warmer weather arrives.

Not to be Debbie Downers, but here’s the reality: Rising temperatures won’t bring the coronavirus spread to a halt. “The idea that this is just going to blow over once spring and summer arrives is incorrect — warmer temps won’t kill off the virus,” says Dr. Vasan. “The spread may slow slightly simply because there tends to be less coughing and sneezing during the warm months, but it’s so easily transmissible that it will continue to circulate if we don’t get a handle on it now. That’s why social distancing is so important.”

3.FACT: Over-the-counter meds won’t make  COVID-19 symptoms worse.

You may have heard that OTC pain meds like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can make coronavirus worse, but the World Health Organization has debunked that notion and other medical experts agree. “That rumor just adds to the panic — there’s no scientific evidence to back it up,” says Dr. Dasgupta.

In general, choose whichever option best treats your symptoms, says Dr. Vasan — if you have a fever, acetaminophen is generally best for that, but if you have inflammation or aches, ibuprofen works better.

4.FACT: Even if you don’t have symptoms, you can still be contagious.

“It’s possible that 70% to 80% of people may have mild to no symptoms, but I would still be very cautious because you may still be infectious,” says Peter Gulick, infectious disease expert at Michigan State University.

What common symptoms should you expect? That landscape changes by the day, but as of now a high fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, and loss of sense of smell or taste are biggies to look out for. Some people are also thought to exhibit gastrointestinal signs like diarrhea, body aches, and upper respiratory symptoms like congestion. Keep yourself healthy by washing your hands regularly and staying inside.

5.FACT: If you’re younger, you can still get coronavirus.

In the early days of the pandemic, older adults and those with underlying or immunosuppressive health conditions were the populations considered to be most at risk. That’s still true — those demographics will be hit hardest if they do get sick — but we now know that people of any age can get coronavirus, including children. In fact, The New York Times recently reported that nearly 40% of hospitalized coronavirus patients in the U.S. are under the age of 54.