Questions and answers about the coronavirus.
As infections rise, here are answers to common questions about the virus
newsroom@montereyherald.com
California’s COVID-19 case count is surging, renewing concerns about disinfection and viral transmission. This week, a new survey by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that 54% of patients were unaware of how they became sick.
In response to your questions, we researched answers from experts, who are learning more as the pandemic continues. Their answers, as well as information gathered from other sources, are summarized here.
QDoes microwaving kill the virus on my mask? What’s the best way to clean it?
AFire safety officials warn against using microwaves to sterilize face masks. A cloth mask might melt, char or start a fire. Disposable masks have a metal nose wire that can cause sparks and break your microwave.
Instead, the CDC recommends using a washing machine. You can include your mask with your laundry. Use regular laundry detergent and the warmest appropriate water setting. If you wash it by hand, prepare a bleach solution by mixing 1/3 cup of household bleach per gallon of warm water
Make sure to completely dry cloth face coverings after wash
ing. In the dryer, use the highest heat setting. If air drying, lay flat. If possible, place the cloth face covering in direct sunlight.
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: “How to wash face coverings”
Q
Is it safe to swim or sail? A
There’s little risk of COVID-19 infection while swimming in a pool because the disinfectants used to clean water — including chlorine and bromine — kill the virus. The water in lakes and the ocean should be safe, also, because the virus is diluted by the large volume of water. Unlike bacteria, respiratory viruses don’t survive well on their own in water.
The greatest risk is not swimming but rather time spent gathering around a pool, especially in large and clustered groups. For that reason, gathering at crowded beaches is a bad idea. Take precaution and physically distance from one another. Of course, if you’re feeling sick, stay home.
If you rent a paddleboard or sailboat, keep your distance from workers, wear a mask and be sure to sanitize your hands and any shared equipment that your hands touch, like paddles, oars or a boat.
Source: Dr. Sharon Nachman, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, and UCHealth in Aurora, Colorado
Q
Is liquid soap better than a bar of soap for washing hands? Can I use saltwater? A
Soap and water are the best option for handwashing. Both liquid and bar soaps contain the same elements: a fat or oil, water and an alkali — commonly called lye. This combination rinses away dirt and oils and the germs that stick to them.
If you don’t have access to soap and clean water, the CDC recommends using a hand sanitizer made up of at least 60% alcohol. Saline or saltwater is not recommended as an effective way to sanitize hands.
Source: CDC: “Handwashing, Hygiene, and Diapering” and “Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-Care Settings”
Q
What precautions should a pregnant woman take during this coronavirus period? If a pregnant woman gets infected, will it be harmful for the baby? A
According to the CDC, pregnant women seem to have similar chances of becoming infected as other people in the same age range. The recommendations for pregnant women are the same as those for everyone else: Wash your hands with soap and water often, disinfect frequently touched surfaces and practice social distancing. It’s rare, but possible, for newborns to become infected with the virus.
Based on what we know at this time, pregnant women might be at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 compared with non-pregnant women. Also, there may be an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth, among pregnant people with COVID-19.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that mothers with suspected COVID-19 infections wear face masks and take stringent hygiene precautions if breastfeeding. COVID-19 has not been found in breast milk.
Source: CDC: “If You Are Pregnant, Breastfeeding, or Caring for Young Children,” and American Academy of Pediatrics: “Management of Infants Born to Mothers with COVID-19”
Q
Would the CPAP machines used by people with sleep apnea work for patients who are only mildly afflicted by COVID-19? A
The American Society of Anesthesiologists and other medical professionals warn that using a CPAP machine potentially increases the risk of spreading the virus. Both ventilators and CPAP machines help people breathe, but ventilators are a closed system. They use a breathing tube and filter exhaled air. CPAP machines, on the other hand, use face masks that let unfiltered air escape.
Source: American Society of Anesthesiologists: “Information for Health Care Professionals”
Q
Does Advil (ibuprofen) make COVID-19 worse? Is Tylenol (acetaminophen) ok? A
Although the World Health Organization previously advised using acetaminophen over ibuprofen, it later rescinded the recommendation. According to the FDA, neither drug has been shown to worsen coronavirus-related symptoms.
Source: World Health Organization: “The use of NSAIDs in patients with COVID-19,” and FDA: “The use of NSAIDs for COVID-19”
Q
Is over-the-counter Mucinex (guaifenesin) or Robitussin (dextromethorphan) effective in relieving congestion in the lungs when you are infected with the virus? A
If you have COVID-19 symptoms, call your doctor to determine the best course of action. In mild cases, guaifenesin or other expectorants can help thin mucus in the chest and throat. Though this might help a patient feel better, it will not kill the virus.
According to the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists, infectious disease teams also recommend throat lozenges and fever suppressants such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen for easing symptoms. (But similar to expectorants, these medications do not address the root cause of the coronavirus.)
Source: UCHealth: “A rundown of coronavirus drugs for home and hospital,” and ASHP: “Pharmacists Offer Insights on C OVID-19”
Q
I have a full spectrum light — would that kill the virus if used? A
Sunlight has three types of radiation: UVA, UVB and UVC. All can damage skin and eyes.
Studies show that UV light kills airborne viruses, so it’s used to disinfect hospitals, subways and other public locations when they are not occupied by people. But UV light has not been shown to prevent COVID-19 in humans or to kill the virus in infected patients — and is the most dangerous of the three types of radiation. UV lights should never be used to disinfect the body. Currently, there hasn’t been much research into whether UV light provides an effective way to sanitize personal protective equipment.
Household surfaces can be sanitized with any products from the Environmental Protection Agency’s list of disinfectants.
Source: Penn Medicine: “COVID-19 Questions,” and EPA: “Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2”