It’s impossible to read about the COVID-19 coronavirus (a serious, often fatal respiratory disease)without running into a few dangerous myths.

But some of these myths can be deadly. So let’s explore three COVID-19 myths to learn about the most widely spread rumors.

Myth: Asymptomatic people can’t spread the coronavirus

The idea of the “silent spread” of SARS-CoV-2 – that asymptomatic people can spread the coronavirus – has spread like wildfire.

After some confusion, the World Health Organization (WHO) clarified that most documented cases of “asymptomatic” spread actually turned out to be cases in which the person was presymptomatic and later developed mild or severe symptoms. Therefore, the WHO acknowledged that asymptomatic people can play a role in spreading tSARS-CoV-2 (which stands for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) responsible for COVID-19.¹

It’s also important to acknowledge that the term “asymptomatic” as used in everyday conversations can actually have three different scientific meanings:

• When you’re asymptomatic, you are carrying the virus but show no symptoms. However, you are still able to infect others.
• When you’re presymptomatic, you have recently contracted the virus and have yet to show symptoms and are also asymptomatic. You are still able to infect others at this stage of infection and will begin to show mild or severe symptoms.
• When you are mildly symptomatic, you do not experience pneumonia associated with COVID-19, but rather mild coronavirus symptoms. You belong to the most infectious types of spreaders, as it is highly likely that you’re out and about.

And several extensive studies suggest that cases of asymptomatic people that test positive for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in their bodies often turn out to be presymptomatic.^2,3,4 However, all of these “asymptomatic” types of spreaders should be taken seriously.

According to the WHO, there are three primary ways that you can catch COVID-19:

1. being coughed or sneezed on by someone with an active infection and symptoms⁵
2. touching a surface that carries infected respiratory droplets and then touching your face (eyes, nose, or mouth)^6,7
3. being in enclosed spaces where infected airborne particles can build up

You can transmit the virus with only one mild cough or sneeze containing infected droplets. It’s easy to forget about such a mild symptom and think you never had symptoms at all. But one cough or sneeze is enough to infect others.

Research also suggests that, in confined spaces over prolonged periods of time, the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus can be spread when you sing, yell, or even talk because infected droplets and aerosols from your mouth can hang in the air indefinitely, exposing people nearby to infection even when you’re asymptomatic, presymptomatic or mildly symptomatic.⁸

But you don’t have to get into the semantics of deciding if someone is asymptomatic, presymptomatic, or mildly symptomatic, as our obsession with semantics could have a deadly impact.

But don’t place too much importance on those three terms. What is important is to followprevention protocols, which can reduce your risk of contracting the COVID-19 disease to nearly zero:

• Maintain six feet of social distance at all times.
• Wear a protective face covering.
• Wash your hands for 20 seconds throughout the day.
• Don’t share any utensils.

Following these easy steps will help keep us safe.

Myth: Pets can’t spread the coronavirus

The short explanation is that pet dogs and cats could get the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus from humans and carry and spread the virus to other humans and animals.⁹

It’s worth noting that animals are thought to be the sources of all coronaviruses.

Although it is rare, scientists suspect the source of COVID-19 was a coronavirus that spread from an animal to a human at a wet market. This was the case with both SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome). In fact, scientists have thought that bats and a type of anteater are the likely source of COVID-19.¹⁰

There’s not a lot of research showing exactly how your pets respond to when exposed to the coronavirus. But we do know that animals can get it from humans and spread it.¹¹ Regarding COVID-19, it’s important to treat a pet like any other member of your family and take precautions to stop the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus to flatten the curve.¹²

For example, if you have a COVID-19 infection, you can potentially infect your dog with the virus by coughing or sneezing on them. Then, your infected dog, while sitting on your father’s lap, can then cough or sneeze, thus infecting your father by spreading the virus through mucous membranes.

So to be on the safe side, pet owners should socially distance their pets too. Don’t let strangers touch your pets while you’re outdoors. Infectious droplets could get into your pet’s mucous membranes or reach their face or paws from other pets.

And if you see someone else’s dog or cat, don’t pet them.

Cats may be especially problematic when it comes to COVID-19, since cats have cellular membranes that have a specific feature that is similar to one in humans onto which the coronavirus latches onto.¹³

This means that cats might be as likely as humans to become infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus from infected respiratory droplets or transmission through the eyes, nose, and mouth.

So here’s what you should do to protect your pets and your household:

• Keep your pets away from infected family members and from other people or their animals outside your home.
• Don’t let your cats or dogs wander outside beyond your home.
• Put dogs on a leash at all times outside the house, keeping them 6 feet away from people and animals.
• Don’t take your pets to places where large groups gather, such as dog parks or indoor pet playgrounds.

Myth: All masks provide equal protection from the coronavirus

Different masks provide different levels of protection from the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

Most localities and public health organizations have recommended wearing a simple cloth face covering in public. This will help protect you from large, infectious respiratory droplets.^{14,15,16,17,18}

Click here to see why particle size matters…

But face coverings like cloth masks, bandanas, or gaiters provide limited protection from airborne aerosols in crowded places when social distancing is impossible.^19,20,21,22

Although cloth masks offer limited protection to the wearer, cloths masks are an effective strategy as a collective public effort – as long as everyone wears them. The fewer people that wear them, the less likely it is that this collective public effort will be effective.

There are higher quality masks that offer the wearer a higher level of protection. A certified N95, FFP2, or KN95 respirator mask is designed to protect the wearer.²³ N95 is an American standard mask that filters at least 95% of 0.3 microgram-sized particles. The Chinese standard KN95 mask and the European standard FFP2 mask offer similar protection.

In hospital settings, airborne aerosols that contain the coronavirus can build up to high concentrations in spaces where patients are in close quarters with medical staff.²⁴

Worn properly, medical-grade respirator masks filter out most infectious aerosols and ensure that the air that the wearer breathes is virtually free of aerosolized viruses.²⁵

Considering the higher effectiveness of N95, FFP2 or KN95 masks, it also makes sense that individuals, especially those who are at higher risk for severe illness, also benefit from higher-level personal protection.

To learn more about face masks, see our piece Face masks 101: Infection control.

The takeaway

Ask your doctor or a medical professional for the most accurate prevention and treatment information – and pay close attention to trusted sources of health news and information who use rigorous research and science to back up their claims.