Are you scared? I’m scared. There’s no shame in that. Anyone with any sense right now is scared. And during times of heightened fear, it is natural for us to want to seek out some sort of magic bullet that will save us all from invisible evils such as COVID-19. But I’m asking you to use your head.
In the past few weeks, several friends have forwarded a variety of voice recordings to me. There are many things these voice recordings have in common.
-
The person on the recording never identifies him or herself by name.
-
The person claims to be in the medical field, or claims to have gotten this information from a reliable source in the medical field.
-
The person then goes on to give all sorts of medical advice that has been “proven” to help you avoid getting COVID-19, or perhaps help you recover quickly if you test positive.
Some of the things they have suggested are:
-
Taking large amounts of Vitamin C.
-
Avoiding Ibuprofen, or, specifically (for some unknown reason), Advil.
-
Avoiding cold liquids.
-
Drinking hot liquids, because this washes the virus into your stomach where the acid then takes care of it.
-
Drinking nothing but lemon.
-
Drinking bleach.
I can’t stress this enough:
⇒ ALL OF THESE THEORIES HAVE BEEN DEBUNKED. ⇐
Ask yourself these things:
-
If any of these magical cures actually worked, don’t you think that Dr. Fauci, and the rest of the doctors from the Centers for Disease Control, would be broadcasting it every 5 minutes on TV?
-
Don’t you think that they’d be shouting it from the rooftops?
-
And why would these unidentified, supposed doctors in all these recordings be passing this information on in an unsophisticated way, as if they’re giving you some sort of privileged, insider scoop?
Here are some more myths that need to be busted:
-
The mistaken belief that you can get the virus by eating Chinese food.
-
The insanity that opening a package from China is more dangerous than opening any other package at this time.
-
The outrageous belief that all Asians are somehow to blame for this and deserve to be punished.
-
The dream that this will all be over by Easter.
-
The erroneous idea that most masks will protect you from the virus, when in fact they’re much more effective in preventing you from spreading the virus to others.
-
The conspiracy theory that this virus was intentionally created in a lab.
-
The fantasy that this virus is no worse than the common flu.
I am begging you, pleading with you:
-
Do not pass on unsubstantiated information.
-
Do your research.
-
Don’t simply share things about this pandemic because it sounds plausible and makes you feel better. It’s only causing more confusion.
Next thing you know, they’ll be telling you to sacrifice chickens, while naked, during the light of the full moon. While this might prove to be an amusing break from the monotony, the chickens sure wouldn’t appreciate it. Not even a little bit.
I know it would be nice to have a get out of jail free card during these trying times, but I urge you to listen to the easily identified infectious disease experts, not other people (who shall remain nameless) with an agenda.
-
Wash your hands.
-
Remain socially distant.
-
Stay at home whenever possible.
We can get through this. The vast, vast majority of us will. That’s a fact.
Read any good books lately? Try mine! http://amzn.to/2mlPVh5
The View from a Drawbridge 
Well said!
Thanks, Helen!
…Well, at least you could have fried chicken after the sacrifice….Seriously, though, I don’t even like the smell of bleach.
You take care…
I can’t even IMAGINE what it tastes like. Don’t ever want to find out. Stay safe, Angi.
Just reported on main stream news; speaking and breathing may spread it. They’re considering guidelines for us all to wear non-medical grade masks in public. Some places already thinking of making it mandatory. Hope you can sew because even these masks are in short supply. I’ll take a mask over drinking bleach any day. My new greeting is a sign that says: Don’t breathe, don’t speak, be calm at 6 feet. Stay safe lady.
You too, Lyn.
Glad to see your warnings. I heard about this idiotic bleach drinking thing–it might thin the herd of the dumb ones.
Saw a tshirt– it said “Social distancing–if you can read this you are too close.”
I may make that a tattoo on my forehead. Stay safe.
https://www.npr.org/2020/03/24/820601571/all-of-this-panic-could-have-been-prevented-author-max-brooks-on-covid-19?utm_source=npr_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20200324&utm_term=4479808&utm_campaign=best-of-npr&utm_id=16278058&orgid=139 This npr interview addresses the panic issue and details what should’ve and still can be done.
Thanks, Lyn!