Myths that Persist
Sept 2020
What COVID Myths do people still believe?
Advice is overflowing on practices to prevent contracting COVID related to food and personal hygiene. Some are backed by science and others have no research basis.
Which ones are trusted at this time?
Belief that Foods do Not transmit COVID is moderately high.
While there are numerous news sources reassuring consumers about the safety of frozen foods, food packaging, fresh fruits and vegetables, and even food imported from China, there are still a few people who believe the mis-information being spread through social media.
The most believed of the myths is COVID is being transmitted on food packaging with 39% believing this to be true. Most scientific sources view this as extremely unlikely.
Belief in Effectiveness of Personal Health Practices
Using neither Vitamins nor Mouthwash will prevent you from catching the coronavirus that causes COVID. While both are good health practices, their use have no bearing or connection to whether a person contracts COVID or not. While most people got this correct, nearly 2 in 5 CLE believe the Vitamin myth.
Health practices of washing hands and mask use which have been shown to be good “helps” in the spread of COVID are mostly supported
- 93% washing hands
- 79% mask protects you
- 86% mask protects others
Belief in Transmission to Pets
About half of those surveyed believe that dogs or cats can contract COVID-19 from people.
These are both TRUE. There are many reported and verified cases of cats and dogs becoming ill due to the same COVID-19 virus which is affecting people.
Surprisingly only about half the people believe these to be true.
