The network came up with a quick test for the presence of coronavirus: what experts think about it

Before you follow any “tips” about the Chinese coronavirus from random sources on social networks, refer to the official recommendations of the World Health Organization, urges Snopes.

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A statement circulating on social media states: “If you can hold your breath for 10 seconds or more without coughing, discomfort, stiffness or tightness, your lungs are not suffering from fibrosis, therefore you are not infected with 2019-nCoV.” But experts warn that this has nothing to do with diagnosing coronavirus infection.

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As the new coronavirus causing the COVID-19 disease spreads around the world, pandemic control tips are spreading over social networks just as quickly.

One of these “viral” tips is sent out on Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp. It offers a simple self-test for coronavirus infection. This advice is usually attributed to "Taiwanese experts", "Stanford University" or "Stanford Hospital Council".

This "viral" advice is often combined with other oft-repeated claims about the Chinese coronavirus, including "serious and useful advice from Japanese doctors."

The “simple check”, according to the posts, is based on the claims that, firstly, the patient develops pulmonary fibrosis in the early stages of COVID-19; and secondly, the inability to hold your breath for 10 seconds is an accurate indicator of fibrosis. Neither is true.

Pulmonary fibrosis is not a symptom of COVID-19

Fibrosis occurs when excess connective tissue is deposited in the lungs in response to scarring or other factors. This excess tissue can seriously reduce the ability of the lungs to deliver oxygen to the body. To date, no major health agency has indicated fibrosis as a symptom of COVID-19 at any stage of the development of the disease. It is not indicated as a symptom in the Clinical Guide for the Management of Patients with Confirmed Diagnosis of COVID-19 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nor as a symptom in a joint report by the World Health Organization.

Serious cases of COVID-19 are usually associated with the development of pneumonia, which can cause scarring (fibrosis) in the lungs. But such damage is not necessarily present in people with symptoms of pneumonia. Self-test, if at least something can be diagnosed with its help, logically suggests that lung damage will cause a cough. But no one takes into account that a cough will be with any other damage or infection of the respiratory tract.

Pulmonary fibrosis is not diagnosed by breath holding

The viral message claims that if you can hold your breath for more than 10 seconds without discomfort, then there is no fibrosis or infection in your lungs.

Although holding your breath is likely to become more difficult if your lung capacity decreases, there is no scientific evidence that holding your breath for 10 seconds indicates good health. There is also no evidence that the only reason you are unable to hold your breath for 10 seconds is because of COVID-19, which has caused pulmonary fibrosis.

There are many other factors that can affect the normal functioning of the lungs, including allergies, asthma, chronic diseases, and infections. There are many types of respiratory tests performed by doctors to identify lung problems. But none of them suggests the ability to hold your breath for 10 seconds.

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Since holding your breath is not a valid test for fibrosis, and fibrosis is not a symptom of COVID-19, this “viral” advice from “Taiwanese experts” is false.

As reported by ForumDaily:

• A new virus was discovered in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019. In 2020, it covered all continents except Antarctica. On March 11, US President Donald Trump imposed a ban on entry from the EU. The ban came into force on Friday, March 13, and will last at least 30 days. In particular, it will concern people who have visited the Schengen area over the past 14 days.
• March 13, Trump introduced a nationwide emergency regime in the US due to coronavirus.
• As of March 13, 1700 cases of infection with Chinese coronavirus were detected in the United States, more than 40 people died.
• On March 11, WHO recognized the situation with the coronavirus pandemic, which covered more than 110 countries. Symptoms of Coronavirus COVID-19 Disease Available here.
• Virologist's tips on how to protect yourself from infection - here to register:.
• Taking advantage of the panic in the society because of the epidemic, fraudsters came up with several schemes to deceive victims of personal data and money. The most common ones can be found here.
• Having succumbed to panic due to a state of emergency, Americans are massively buying toilet paperbut they cannot explain why they need it during the epidemic.
• Read all news about coronavirus in our special project.

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