Debunking COVID-19 Myths Related to China

Myth: Coronavirus was engineered in a Chinese lab. 

Although there is still a lot of uncertainty pertaining to how or where the coronavirus began, there is no data that supports this myth. SARS-CoV-2 is a virus that originates in bats and can be passed from animal to human. The most likely scenario of the beginnings of this virus is that the virus went from bats to a mammalian species. The actual species of bats that carries this specific coronavirus lives in a remote area about 1,000 miles from the initial outbreak. Therefore, researchers are fairly certain there is an intermediate host for the virus. This intermediate host could have been at the popular live wet markets in China or through test animals in the Wuhan lab. Many researchers are trying to discover the origin of the virus; however, the response to control and eliminate the virus is the same regardless where the virus originated. Read more about this here. 

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Myth: It’s not safe to receive a package from China. 

According to the WHO, it is safe to receive packages or letters from China. The Journal of Hospital Infection found that coronavirus can stay on materials like glass, metal, and plastic for over a week. It can last on these surfaces in a specific environment of light and temperature, which is not provided during the shipment process. The virus lasts an even shorter time on typical shipping materials. Read more about it here. 

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Myth: It’s not safe to eat at Chinese restaurants in the United States. 

The virus affects more than those of Chinese descent. This myth encourages racial discrimination. Read more about it here. 

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Check out the video below from ABC News: