The BC Centre of Disease Control (BCCDC) wants to clear up “several misconceptions” being spread about coronavirus on social media.

In a series of tweets, the BCCDC provides a clear explanation about the virus and the ways it can and cannot be transmitted.

1/11 There are several misconceptions on social media currently around how #coronavirus is transmitted. Please allow us to clear it up. #2019nCoV

— BCCDC (@CDCofBC) January 30, 2020

2/11 Receptors for #coronavirus are deep in a person’s lungs – a person must inhale enough of the virus that it can actually bind to those receptors deep in the lungs. #2019nCoV

— BCCDC (@CDCofBC) January 30, 2020

3/11 #Coronavirus is transmitted via larger droplets that fall quickly out of the air (for example, after a sneeze). This virus is not airborne. #2019nCoV

— BCCDC (@CDCofBC) January 30, 2020

4/11 #Coronavirus is not something that people can get from casual contact. A person must be in close contact (within 2 metres) with somebody to be able to inhale those droplets if a person coughs or sneezes without cover, in front of them. #2019nCoV

— BCCDC (@CDCofBC) January 30, 2020

5/11 The droplets can fall to the ground after a sneeze and a person can touch them with their hands. The risk of transmission is low in this case, as those droplets must be of significant enough quantity to make it to the receptors in a person’s lungs. #coronavirus #2019nCoV

— BCCDC (@CDCofBC) January 30, 2020

6/11 If a person has touched something that has droplets on it with #coronavirus in it, as long as they clean their hands before touching their face or your mouth, they are not at risk of getting that virus in their body. #2019nCoV

— BCCDC (@CDCofBC) January 30, 2020

7/11 #Coronavirus is not something that comes in through the skin. This virus is remitted through large droplets that are breathed deep into a person’s lungs. #2019nCoV

— BCCDC (@CDCofBC) January 30, 2020

8/11 Regarding wearing masks – masks should be used by sick people to prevent transmission to other people. A mask will help keep a person’s droplets in. #2019nCoV #coronavirus

— BCCDC (@CDCofBC) January 30, 2020

9/11 It may be less effective to wear a mask in the community when a person is not sick themselves. Masks may give a person a false sense of security & are likely to increase the number of times a person will touch their own face – to adjust the mask, etc. #2019nCoV #coronavirus

— BCCDC (@CDCofBC) January 30, 2020

10/11 The most important thing that a person can do to prevent themselves from getting #coronavirus is to wash their hands regularly and avoid touching their face. #2019nCoV

— BCCDC (@CDCofBC) January 30, 2020

11/11 Cover your mouth when you cough so you’re not exposing other people. If you are sick yourself, stay away from others. Contact your health care provider ahead of time so you can be safely assessed. #2019nCoV #coronavirus

— BCCDC (@CDCofBC) January 30, 2020

“The receptors for coronavirus are deep in a person’s lungs – a person must inhale enough of the virus that it can actually bind to those receptors deep in the lungs,” says the BCCDC, adding that the virus is transmitted through “larger droplets that fall quickly out of the air (for example, after a sneeze)” meaning it is not airborne.

The virus also doesn’t spread through “casual contact.” Individuals must be in close contact (within two metres) to be able to inhale droplets from a cough or a sneeze that is not covered.

If these droplets fall on the ground and a person touches them with their hands, “the risk of transmission is low in this case as those droplets must be of significant enough quantity to make it to the receptors in a person’s lungs.”

If an individual touches a surface or object that has droplets containing the coronavirus, they are not in risk of getting the virus in their body as long as they clean their hands before touching their face or mouth.

“Coronavirus is not something that comes through the skin. This virus is remitted through large droplets that are breathed deep into a person’s lungs,” says the BCCDC.

As for masks, they should be used by sick people in order to prevent transmission to others, as the masks help keep droplets contained.

However, it may be less effective to wear a facemask when a person is not sick, as they “may give a person a false sense of security” and increase times they touch their face in order to adjust the mask.

So what is the most important thing people can do to prevent themselves from getting the virus?

Wash your hands regularly and avoid touching your face, says the BCCDC.

“Cover your mouth when you cough so you’re not exposing other people. If you are sick yourself, stay away from others. Contact your health care provider ahead of time so you can be safely assessed.”

Earlier today the World Health Organization (WHO) declared coronavirus a global health emergency.

The WHO announcement comes shortly after the Government of Canada advised Canadians to avoid all non-essential travel to China – the third time it has issued such an advisory over the past week.

Currently, there have been three confirmed cases in Canada — two in Ontario and one in BC.

• See also: 
  • WHO declares coronavirus global health emergency
  • 27 possible cases of coronavirus currently under investigation in Ontario
  • Government of Canada now advising to avoid all non-essential travel to China
  • First coronavirus case in BC confirmed by national lab
  • Air Canada suspends select flights to China amid coronavirus outbreak