Viruses - Symptoms, signs, information and frequently asked questions

How to find reliable information and how to spot misinformation

How to find reliable information and how to spot misinformation Seek trusted sources of information, such as WHO, national health authorities and your health professional. For updated information on COVID-19, check the WHO website. Always double-check the information you receive. Beware of websites and texts that use the same messages and have the same writing and overall style, as these are likely to be viral messages produced for mass distribution that are intended to mislead. Beware of false and misleading claims, particularly in relation to the effects of alcohol on health and immunity. Such claims should be categorically discounted as a source of health information as there is no evidence that drinking alcohol offers any protection against COVID-19 or has a positive effect on the course and outcomes of any infectious disease. Beware of claims made online that alcohol offers any essential benefits that you really need to have during your period of home isolation or quarantine

Alcohol use disorders and COVID-19

Alcohol use disorders and COVID-19 Alcohol use disorders are characterized by heavy alcohol use and loss of control over alcohol intake. Although they are among the most prevalent mental disorders globally, they are also among the most stigmatized. People with an alcohol use disorder are at greater risk of COVID-19 not only because of the impact of alcohol on their health but also because they are more likely to experience homelessness or incarceration than other members of the population. It is therefore essential, under the current conditions, that people who need help because of their alcohol use get all the support they need. If you, or a person close to you, have problems in relation to alcohol use, please consider the following: The present situation is a unique opportunity to quit drinking, or at least to cut down considerably, as various social cues and peer pressure situations, such as parties, friends’ gatherings, restaurants and clubs, are (by necessity) avoidable. On

Alcohol and home isolation or quarantine To limit the spread of COVID-19, countries have progressively introduced community-wide lockdowns and periods of quarantine for those who are suspected of having contracted the virus or have been in contact with someone infected by the virus. This means that an unprecedented number of people are now staying in their homes. It is important to understand that alcohol poses risks to your health and safety and should therefore be avoided during periods of home isolation or quarantine. When working from home, adhere to your usual workplace rules and do not drink. Remember that after a lunch break you should still be in a fit state to work – and that is not possible if you are under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol is not a necessary part of your diet and should not be a priority on your shopping list. Avoid stockpiling alcohol at home, as this will potentially increase your alcohol consumption and the consumption of others in your household.

Alcohol Use and Physical Distancing during the COVID-19 Pandemic To help slow the spread of the virus, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends keeping at least three feet away from sick people as a protective measure. Bars, casinos, nightclubs, restaurants, and other places where people gather to consume alcohol, as well as house calls, increase the risk of transmission. Therefore, a protective measure such as physical distancing reduces the availability of alcoholic beverages and gives you a good opportunity to reduce your alcohol consumption and take care of your health. Read more What to do and what not to do during a pandemic? Alcohol: Do's and Don'ts During a COVID-19 Pandemic To avoid weakening your body's immune system, harming your health, and creating health risks for others, you should completely avoid drinking alcoholic beverages. Only in a sober state can you maintain vigilance, speed of reaction and action, and clarity of mind when making decisi

Alcohol: Do's and Don'ts During a COVID-19 Pandemic To avoid weakening your body's immune system, harming your health, and creating health risks for others, you should completely avoid drinking alcoholic beverages. Only in a sober state can you maintain vigilance, speed of reaction and action, and clarity of mind when making decisions that affect you personally, your family members, and members of your environment. If you consume alcohol, reduce the amount to a minimum and avoid alcohol intoxication. Drinking alcohol should not become a social occasion for smoking in company and vice versa: drinking alcoholic beverages is often accompanied by smoking, and smoking in turn increases the risk of a more complicated and dangerous course of COVID-19. Don't forget that smoking indoors is a risk for other members of your family, and you must avoid creating an environment that endangers their health. Children and teenagers who live with you should not have access to alc

Common myths about alcohol and COVID-19 Myth: Drinking alcohol kills the virus that causes COVID-19. Truth: Drinking alcohol does not kill the virus. Conversely, drinking alcohol can increase health risks if a person becomes infected with the virus. Alcohol (at a concentration of at least 60%) can be effectively used to disinfect the skin, but it does not have a disinfectant effect when ingested. Myth: Drinking strong alcoholic beverages destroys the virus particles in the air you breathe. Truth: Drinking alcohol does not help kill viral particles in the air you breathe, does not disinfect your mouth and throat, and is in no way a way to protect yourself from the virus. Myth: Drinking alcohol (in the form of beer, wine, distilled spirits, or herbal spirits) strengthens the immune system and increases the body's resistance to the virus. Truth: Drinking alcohol has a devastating effect on your immune system and does not strengthen your immune system or increase your bo

Alcohol and the human body: general facts Ethyl alcohol (ethanol) - a substance that is contained in alcoholic (alcoholic) drinks and is the cause of most of the harm from their use, regardless of which alcoholic beverages ethanol enters the body: wine, beer, spirits or other alcoholic products. Unfortunately, other toxic substances that may smell but are not ethanol can be added to adulterated drinks that are produced by illegal or artisanal methods; or they may be present in alcoholic products not intended for ingestion, such as hand sanitizers. Exposure to additives such as methanol (methyl alcohol) is fatal to humans even in small amounts or can lead to blindness and kidney failure, among other effects. According to media reports, as well as information from private sources, in some countries during the COVID-19 outbreak, there have already been deaths due to the use of alcohol-based products based on the unfounded belief that they can provide protection against the virus.

Alcohol and COVID-19: What You Need to Know With the current COVID-19 (novel coronavirus infection) pandemic, all countries in the world must take decisive action to stop the spread of the coronavirus among the population. In these critical circumstances, it is critical to educate people about other health risks and hazards in order to ensure the safety and health of the public. This bulletin contains important information you need to know about COVID-19 and alcohol use. Also, special attention is paid to misinformation about the connection between COVID-19 and alcohol consumption, which is spread through social networks and other communication channels. The main things to remember: Drinking alcohol in no way protects against COVID-19 infection and cannot prevent COVID-19 disease. By WHO Regional Office for Europe . Read more Alcohol does not protect against COVID-19 Alcohol does not protect against COVID-19; during the general quarantine, access to alcoholic beverages

Alcohol does not protect against COVID-19; during the general quarantine, access to alcoholic beverages should be limited It is known that drinking alcohol in general is harmful to our health. We also know that alcohol use increases the risk of injury and violence, including intimate partner violence, and can lead to alcohol poisoning. During the general quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic, alcohol consumption can expose people's health even more, as well as increase the prevalence of risky behavior, mental health problems and violence. WHO / Europe reminds residents of the Region that alcohol consumption does not protect them from COVID-19, and recommends that national governments introduce measures to limit alcohol consumption. Dispelling myths about alcohol and COVID-19 As part of the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO collaborated with partners to develop the Essential Information on Alcohol and COVID-19 Fact Sheet, which provides information and gui

Trump on the plan to get Americans back to work: "Careful, step by step" The specifics of the implementation of the plan will be taken into account from state to state: the regions least affected by the outbreak will be the first to return to normal. President Donald Trump on Thursday outlined the basic principles under which the US economy, severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic, can reopen, returning millions of jobs to the country. Trump unveiled the new plan Thursday night during a daily press briefing by the White House working group on coronavirus. The President noted that the plan will be implemented taking into account the specifics and situation in each individual state. At the same time, the states should take a step-by-step approach to returning Americans to their jobs - if a favorable epidemiological situation develops. Governors will be empowered to amend the implementation of the plan in their states, and will also have the right not to resume e

A special regime of movement due to the pandemic was introduced in almost half of the Russian regions Authorities of 39 from 85 regions of Russia by Friday evening introduced a special mode of movement due to the spread of a new coronavirus infection. Some of them limited entry to certain settlements, some revised the conditions of movement throughout the territory of the entire subject, follows from the statements of the regional authorities and the regulatory legal acts signed by them. The self-isolation regime, mandatory or advisory, has been introduced in all regions of the Russian Federation. In most subjects, it applies to citizens of all ages, in some - only to certain groups, for example, persons over 65 years old. Cases of coronavirus infection have been identified in all regions of Russia. Since April 17, the quarantine regime began to operate in Pyatigorsk (Stavropol Territory), where 31 cases of coronavirus infection were recorded. Only emergency vehicles and life sup