25: Frequently Asked Questions
1. Q: How long can the coronavirus survive in the air, and can it reproduce itself?
💁Tracy: The virus does not survive in the air for long. The time depends on the surface and conditions in the air. The virus itself cannot reproduce itself. It needs host / human body to replicate its RNA.
2. Q: Will the packages or letters sent from the pandemic area carry viruses?
💁Tracy: If it takes a long time (for example, a week) to arrive, don't worry about it, because the virus cannot survive on dry surfaces or in circulating air for a long time. For same day delivery, if you are not in a hurry, leave the items outside for a few days before you open it. If you are in a hurry, wipe the surface with a disinfectant first.
3. Q: Are wool fabrics more susceptible to viruses?
💁Tracy: Wool fabrics are not more susceptible to viruses than other clothing. Viruses are more likely to stay on the surface of smooth objects for longer periods of time, and are more likely to gather in places frequently touched (such as elevator button and mobile phone surfaces).
4. Q: Is there mother-to-child transmission of the new coronavirus?
💁Tracy: There have been a few cases that newborn babies are infected with coronavirus, but it is unclear whether there is mother-to-child transmission or they might have been infected in the new environment.
5. Q: Can pets (dogs and cats) be infected with the new coronavirus?
💁Tracy: In a few reported cases, there were dogs (pet) that showed positive symptoms and test results, and cats (pet) being infected. So try not to let others touch your pets, also avoid touching pets if you are infected. See our article on this topic, “27: What to do if you have pets?” https://tracysguide.blogspot.com/2020/04/27-what-to-do-if-you-have-pets.html
6. Q: How do I avoid getting infected from express delivery services?
💁Tracy: Try to choose "No Contact" services. Open the door and pick up the goods after the delivery person leaves. Viruses may survive on the surface of the packaging box for several days, so you should wipe it with a disinfectant before opening it. If you need to interact with the delivery person within 6 feet, it is best to wear a mask and wash your hands afterward. See our article on this topic, “3: Disinfecting Takeout and Deliveries”
7. Q: Can takeout or food delivery transmit the virus?
💁Tracy: Cooked food is safe because the virus is killed during high-temperature cooking. But the outer packaging and food boxes may be contaminated. If you do not feel comfortable with the outer packaging, you can use medical alcohol (70% alcohol) to wipe it. As a precaution, always heat up food as a way to disinfect it. See our article on this topic, “3: Disinfecting Takeout and Deliveries”
“https://tracysguide.blogspot.com/2020/04/3-disinfecting-takeout-and-deliveries.html
8. Q: Can antiviral drugs prevent new coronavirus infections?
💁Tracy: There is no clear evidence yet that any antiviral drug has the ability to prevent new coronavirus.
9. Q: Can stool transmit the virus?
💁Tracy: Virus fragments have been detected in stool of infected patients. So fecal transmission is highly possible. See our article on this topic, “17: Preventing fecal-oral transmission—Things to pay attention to at home”, https://tracysguide.blogspot.com/2020/04/17-preventing-fecal-oral.html
10. Q: How long can the virus survive in secretions (snivel, sputum, saliva, etc)?
💁Tracy: Without disinfection, viruses can survive for many hours or days in body secretions. Wet masks and gloves are prone to contamination with the virus and therefore need to be discarded or disinfected carefully.
11. Q: Will the patients who have recovered from infection be infected again?
💁Tracy: No one knows yet. Patients recovered from infection will produce some protective antibodies which generally last for half a year. However, in the long run, there is still the possibility of virus mutation. So the protective antibodies in patients from last infection will lose effect on the mutated virus.
12. Q: Is it a good idea to bask in the sun on sunny days?
💁Tracy: Sunlight cannot kill the virus. The temperature threshold to kill the virus is 133 F degrees for half an hour. However, sunlight is good for physical and mental health.
13. Q: Is the virus eliminated by circulating air?
💁Tracy: Yes. It is recommended to open windows for air circulation frequently.
14. Q: Can cash and coins carry viruses?
💁Tracy: Money is passed around in different people's hands. Cash and coins may be contaminated with the virus. So be very careful when using cash or coins. If you do, wash hands afterward.
15. Q: Are there studies showing that the virus is more susceptible to infecting certain ethnic groups? Is there a gender difference for infection?
💁Tracy: Everyone is susceptible. Gender or race has not shown to affect the risk.
16. Q: Are Abidol and Darunavir effective for the treatment of new coronavirus infection?
💁Tracy: There is currently no clinical data to support these drugs yet. The use of these two drugs in the treatment of coronavirus has not yet entered clinical trials. For the time being, it is impossible to draw a conclusion on their efficacy in the treatment of coronavirus infection.
17. Q: The vaccine will soon be on the market and the pandemic will soon be brought under control. Is this true?
💁Tracy: The vaccine is already under development, but it needs clinical trials (usually lasting one to several years) to fully understand the effectiveness and side effects. Generally speaking, RNA viruses are susceptible to mutation, and vaccines may not be sufficient to prevent infection at that time.
18. Q: During the pandemic, should you avoid eating raw foods such, as raw meat, sashimi, milk, and undercooked eggs?
💁Tracy: It is not recommended to eat eggs, meat or fish fillets that are not fully cooked. But the UHT or shelf-stable milk in the supermarket is safe.
19. Q: Since super strong liquor can kill the virus, can drinking more alcohol prevent coronavirus infection?
💁Tracy: The alcohol that is taken into the body needs to be broken down by the body to be absorbed. But it is not alcohol any more after decomposition and it cannot be effectively transported to the place where the virus may infect either. Drinking too much alcohol can hurt your body and reduce your immunity, so it is not good for preventing infection.
20. Q: Can eating more vitamin C daily increase immunity?
💁Tracy: There are reports that eating large amounts of vitamin C may help shorten the duration of infection. But whether it has a preventive effect is inconclusive. The enhancement of autoimmunity depends on many factors. Mood, sleep, diet and exercise are all important. Long term use of large doses of vitamin C can also cause kidney stones and other health issues.
21. Q: I heard that the new coronavirus may be transmitted through the blood. Can it be transmitted through sex or mosquito bites?
💁Tracy: New coronaviruses may transmit through blood. However, at present, there is no evidence that there is a possibility of sexual transmission or mosquito bite transmission, and there is no direct or indirect evidence for the time being.
22. Q: I heard that salt water and smoked vinegar can kill the virus—is that true?
💁Tracy: Brine mouthwash and nasal wash can kill some bacteria, but not enough to kill the coronavirus. Effective disinfectants include alcohol, bleach-containing disinfectants, and being soaked in hot water for a long time or exposed to high temperatures for a long time.
💁Tracy: The virus does not survive in the air for long. The time depends on the surface and conditions in the air. The virus itself cannot reproduce itself. It needs host / human body to replicate its RNA.
2. Q: Will the packages or letters sent from the pandemic area carry viruses?
💁Tracy: If it takes a long time (for example, a week) to arrive, don't worry about it, because the virus cannot survive on dry surfaces or in circulating air for a long time. For same day delivery, if you are not in a hurry, leave the items outside for a few days before you open it. If you are in a hurry, wipe the surface with a disinfectant first.
3. Q: Are wool fabrics more susceptible to viruses?
💁Tracy: Wool fabrics are not more susceptible to viruses than other clothing. Viruses are more likely to stay on the surface of smooth objects for longer periods of time, and are more likely to gather in places frequently touched (such as elevator button and mobile phone surfaces).
4. Q: Is there mother-to-child transmission of the new coronavirus?
💁Tracy: There have been a few cases that newborn babies are infected with coronavirus, but it is unclear whether there is mother-to-child transmission or they might have been infected in the new environment.
5. Q: Can pets (dogs and cats) be infected with the new coronavirus?
💁Tracy: In a few reported cases, there were dogs (pet) that showed positive symptoms and test results, and cats (pet) being infected. So try not to let others touch your pets, also avoid touching pets if you are infected. See our article on this topic, “27: What to do if you have pets?” https://tracysguide.blogspot.com/2020/04/27-what-to-do-if-you-have-pets.html
6. Q: How do I avoid getting infected from express delivery services?
💁Tracy: Try to choose "No Contact" services. Open the door and pick up the goods after the delivery person leaves. Viruses may survive on the surface of the packaging box for several days, so you should wipe it with a disinfectant before opening it. If you need to interact with the delivery person within 6 feet, it is best to wear a mask and wash your hands afterward. See our article on this topic, “3: Disinfecting Takeout and Deliveries”
7. Q: Can takeout or food delivery transmit the virus?
💁Tracy: Cooked food is safe because the virus is killed during high-temperature cooking. But the outer packaging and food boxes may be contaminated. If you do not feel comfortable with the outer packaging, you can use medical alcohol (70% alcohol) to wipe it. As a precaution, always heat up food as a way to disinfect it. See our article on this topic, “3: Disinfecting Takeout and Deliveries”
“https://tracysguide.blogspot.com/2020/04/3-disinfecting-takeout-and-deliveries.html
8. Q: Can antiviral drugs prevent new coronavirus infections?
💁Tracy: There is no clear evidence yet that any antiviral drug has the ability to prevent new coronavirus.
9. Q: Can stool transmit the virus?
💁Tracy: Virus fragments have been detected in stool of infected patients. So fecal transmission is highly possible. See our article on this topic, “17: Preventing fecal-oral transmission—Things to pay attention to at home”, https://tracysguide.blogspot.com/2020/04/17-preventing-fecal-oral.html
10. Q: How long can the virus survive in secretions (snivel, sputum, saliva, etc)?
💁Tracy: Without disinfection, viruses can survive for many hours or days in body secretions. Wet masks and gloves are prone to contamination with the virus and therefore need to be discarded or disinfected carefully.
11. Q: Will the patients who have recovered from infection be infected again?
💁Tracy: No one knows yet. Patients recovered from infection will produce some protective antibodies which generally last for half a year. However, in the long run, there is still the possibility of virus mutation. So the protective antibodies in patients from last infection will lose effect on the mutated virus.
12. Q: Is it a good idea to bask in the sun on sunny days?
💁Tracy: Sunlight cannot kill the virus. The temperature threshold to kill the virus is 133 F degrees for half an hour. However, sunlight is good for physical and mental health.
13. Q: Is the virus eliminated by circulating air?
💁Tracy: Yes. It is recommended to open windows for air circulation frequently.
14. Q: Can cash and coins carry viruses?
💁Tracy: Money is passed around in different people's hands. Cash and coins may be contaminated with the virus. So be very careful when using cash or coins. If you do, wash hands afterward.
15. Q: Are there studies showing that the virus is more susceptible to infecting certain ethnic groups? Is there a gender difference for infection?
💁Tracy: Everyone is susceptible. Gender or race has not shown to affect the risk.
16. Q: Are Abidol and Darunavir effective for the treatment of new coronavirus infection?
💁Tracy: There is currently no clinical data to support these drugs yet. The use of these two drugs in the treatment of coronavirus has not yet entered clinical trials. For the time being, it is impossible to draw a conclusion on their efficacy in the treatment of coronavirus infection.
17. Q: The vaccine will soon be on the market and the pandemic will soon be brought under control. Is this true?
💁Tracy: The vaccine is already under development, but it needs clinical trials (usually lasting one to several years) to fully understand the effectiveness and side effects. Generally speaking, RNA viruses are susceptible to mutation, and vaccines may not be sufficient to prevent infection at that time.
18. Q: During the pandemic, should you avoid eating raw foods such, as raw meat, sashimi, milk, and undercooked eggs?
💁Tracy: It is not recommended to eat eggs, meat or fish fillets that are not fully cooked. But the UHT or shelf-stable milk in the supermarket is safe.
19. Q: Since super strong liquor can kill the virus, can drinking more alcohol prevent coronavirus infection?
💁Tracy: The alcohol that is taken into the body needs to be broken down by the body to be absorbed. But it is not alcohol any more after decomposition and it cannot be effectively transported to the place where the virus may infect either. Drinking too much alcohol can hurt your body and reduce your immunity, so it is not good for preventing infection.
20. Q: Can eating more vitamin C daily increase immunity?
💁Tracy: There are reports that eating large amounts of vitamin C may help shorten the duration of infection. But whether it has a preventive effect is inconclusive. The enhancement of autoimmunity depends on many factors. Mood, sleep, diet and exercise are all important. Long term use of large doses of vitamin C can also cause kidney stones and other health issues.
21. Q: I heard that the new coronavirus may be transmitted through the blood. Can it be transmitted through sex or mosquito bites?
💁Tracy: New coronaviruses may transmit through blood. However, at present, there is no evidence that there is a possibility of sexual transmission or mosquito bite transmission, and there is no direct or indirect evidence for the time being.
22. Q: I heard that salt water and smoked vinegar can kill the virus—is that true?
💁Tracy: Brine mouthwash and nasal wash can kill some bacteria, but not enough to kill the coronavirus. Effective disinfectants include alcohol, bleach-containing disinfectants, and being soaked in hot water for a long time or exposed to high temperatures for a long time.
References
Writing: Vicki Cheng, Jingyi Xi; Translation: Xiaoming Dong; Proofreading: Xiao Luo, Suzhen Jiang, Alice Cai; Artwork: PotterW
Disclaimer and Copyright © 2020 United Chinese Americans
