Facts About the COVID-19 that are NOT True

This is not a new disease. Coronaviruses have always existed

Coronaviruses have indeed been around for a long time. But just like animals and plants, viruses are evolving, recalls the Süddeutsche Zeitung. The currently known four strains of coronaviruses include 46 known virus species, as well as many subspecies that affect both mammals, birds and fish. Coronaviruses change rapidly, some of them infecting humans and causing severe and varied symptoms.

Before the SARS epidemic in 2002/03, two coronaviruses were known to infect humans - HCoV-229E and HCoV-OC43. They lead to colds and rarely cause complications. Newer coronaviruses, including SARS, MERS and Sars-CoV-2, have special characteristics that can be particularly dangerous to humans. 

COVID-19 is not more dangerous than the seasonal flu

The two diseases are different. In severe cases, infection with the new coronavirus is more dangerous, affects more organs and leads to higher mortality from influenza.

The first organ affected by both diseases is the lung. Influenza no longer spreads, although in some cases it can lead to heart attacks or severe heart failure. COVID-19 affects almost all organs. The virus uses the enzyme ACE-2 (angiotensin converting enzyme) to attach to healthy cells throughout the body. 

Collateral damage is more severe than the disease itself

Although Germany is relatively weakly affected by the pandemic, severe results are already in place: in the first three weeks of April, mortality increased by about 10% compared to the average over the same period in previous years. More than 5,294 people died.

However, not all of them died from COVID-19. Scheduled surgeries were canceled,...