Fact Check: Post Claiming Home Treatment Will Cure Coronavirus Infection Is Fake, As Per Experts

New Delhi (Vishvas News): A post going viral on social media claims that coronavirus is not a major disease but just a viral infection and can be cured using home remedies. Vishvas News has also received this claim for fact check on its WhatsApp chatbot (+91 95992 99372). In this viral claim, a decoction made from certain ingredients is also allegedly advised to consume in order to ease the coronavirus infection. According to medical experts, this claim is completely false. World Health Organization has declared coronavirus as pandemic and attempts to cure it without doctor’s consultation and with home remedies can be harmful.

Claim

Vishvas News has received the link of a tweet on its WhatsApp chatbot. The tweet read, roughly translated to English, ‘Don’t be afraid! Corona is not a major disease. There is a viral infection that can also be treated with home remedies. Drinking the decoction made of turmeric, ginger, cloves, black pepper, cinnamon etc. can keep the throat warm. You will get well soon Jai Bheem !’

The archived version of this tweet can be viewed by clicking here.

Investigation

Vishvas News began investigating the claims of this tweet by searching on the website of World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO official site clearly mentions that some Western, conventional, or home remedies can relieve mild symptoms of COVID-19, but no medicines have been found so far to cure the disease. This information of WHO can be seen below:

In the viral tweet, it is advised to consume the decoction made of certain spices. In this regard, we searched on the website of Ministry of AYUSH. Ministry of AYUSH has issued guidelines regarding Ayurveda practitioners related to coronavirus. It clearly states that no drug or treatment has shown promising results for the prevention or treatment of corona. Strengthening the immune system to prevent infection of coronavirus, breaking its chain with social distancing, identifying the infection early, and providing timely health facilities is advised. The complete guidelines of the Ministry of AYUSH can be viewed by clicking here.

Vishvas News spoke to Dr. Sumit of Ram Sagar Mishra Combined Hospital, Lucknow in this regard. He said that coronavirus is a pandemic that has affected the entire world. He said, “Taking Coronavirus lightly can be a mistake. No treatment or medication for coronavirus has been discovered so far. Proper medical care is needed after the disease is detected. Trying home remedies can be dangerous. Social media posts like that of viral claim should be ignored and reported. ‘

Vishvas News scanned the profile of the user who tweeted the claim. We found that the user’s profile was created in August 2020 and had 793 followers until the fact check was done.

Conclusion

According to medical experts, trying to cure coronavirus infection with home remedies can be dangerous. No treatment, medicine or vaccine for coronavirus has been discovered so far.

Disclaimer: The #CoronavirusFacts database records fact-checks published since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. The pandemic and its consequences are constantly evolving and data that was accurate weeks or even days ago might have changed. Remember to check the date when the fact-check you are reading was published before sharing it.