As COVID-19 spreads across the globe, people want their questions answered to calm their fear and anxiety. However, the media spreads false facts and incorrect information like wildfire, misinforming citizens looking to protect themselves. Here are some true facts about COVID-19 from the CDC and WHO:

1. The primary symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
2. Older people with other health issues are at a higher risk.
3. There is not a vaccine yet.
4. It spreads through respiratory droplets, so to stay healthy, avoid human contact and, if possible, wash your hands, and use hand sanitizer.
5. The masks are only for ill people.
6. COVID-19 has a relatively low death rate, especially for teenagers with no health issues.
7. Heat/sunlight does not prevent the spread of the virus.
8. Cold weather does not kill the virus.
9. Antibiotics do not work against the virus, because it is not bacterial.
10. The U.S has about 662 cases of COVID-19 per one million people, versus Italy, which has about 1,750 cases per one million people. The U.S now has more cases than Italy, but less per million people (according to https://www.google.com/covid19-map/)

Before jumping to conclusions and letting anxiety take over, make sure to read the facts from reliable sources like the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) at cdc.gov and WHO (World Health Organization) at who.int. And, for information about COVID-19 in Wise County, go to wcmessenger.com.