Duration of incubation of the virus, modes of transmission, usefulness of wearing a mask and psychosis around Asian restaurants ... As the epidemic of new coronavirus Covid-19 continues to spread worldwide, Europe 1 offers you a "fact -checking "to help you tell the real from the fake in everything you hear about the virus.
Are children under the age of 14 spared from coronavirus?
It is a mystery that scientists have not yet solved. Children are rather spared from the coronavirus. They represent only 1% of the contamination cases reported. Few cases and no deaths yet since the youngest patient who succumbed to the virus was 21 years old. On the other hand, according to several infectiologists, it is possible that the children are asymptomatic, do not present any of the symptoms such as cough or rosse fever. The rare children affected resist very well.
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Can you be contaminated by touching a piece of furniture?
We know that we are contaminated at a certain distance. But if, for example, you touch a piece of furniture after an infected person, can you in turn be infected? For the moment, it is not yet known how long the virus will resist the open air. The infectious disease specialists who study the number of cases found believe that it is rather close to the contagion of the flu. The virus would last a few minutes. So yes, if an infected person touches the metro bar and you too can be reached. The easiest way is to wash your hands as often as possible, even if it means using an alcoholic solution.
Are masks useful?
If you are not contaminated, but you buy a mask, you cannot be sure not to contract the coronavirus. Masks must be worn by contaminated people. It is currently recommended that hospital staff wear it because they may be in contact with patients.
On the other hand, it is not useful to wear one if you are not contagious. However, as infectious diseases experts confirm, if the situation becomes similar to that in Italy and the virus is not contained, the authorities may take preventive measures, such as wearing a mask.
Can you be infected by eating Asian food?
No. In Paris, Asian restaurants note a drastic drop in attendance and a real psychosis has formed on food, especially on social networks. But absolutely nothing indicates that there is a transmission by food: the virus needs a living body to survive beyond a few minutes.