While a cure has yet to be found for coronavirus or Covid-19, reports on so-called miracle cures have spread online, with an overspill of misinformation ranging from useless to extremely dangerous.

One such claim advises people to use garlic. The World Health Organization (WHO) responded to this by saying that despite the antimicrobial properties in garlic, there is no evidence that it can cure or protect people from coronavirus. The WHO also dismissed saline nose rinse as a fake miracle cure, saying that while it could help in recovery from the common cold, there is no reason to believe it will kill off the coronavirus.

Another fake cure spreading online is Miracle Mineral Solution, more popularly known as MMS, a solution that the US Food and Drug Administration first warned the public about in 2010. Unfortunately, the bleaching agent is still promoted on social media and sold online by many independent distributors as a treatment that combats disease.

Another rumored cure claims that taking a hot bath or wading in snow can fight off coronavirus. The human body temperature remains around 36.5 to 37°C, regardless of the external temperature or weather, so any advice involving snow or a hot bath to fight COVID-19 is redundant.

A quote from a certain Japanese doctor claimed that drinking water every 15 minutes can flush out any virus that might have entered the mouth. This post went viral on Facebook, with a version in Arabic shared 250,000 times. While staying hydrated is generally good medical advice, the idea that you can wash a respiratory virus down to your stomach and kill it is wrong.

Lastly, although vaccinations for respiratory illnesses are recommended for protecting our health, they are also not effective against the coronavirus.