Coronavirus UK: Will rinsing your nose with salt water help prevent spread of coronavirus?

Coronavirus UK: Will rinsing your nose with salt water help prevent spread of coronavirus?

Coronavirus has infected more than 2,386,650 people across 210 countries, territories and an international conveyance. Pictures of empty shelves show people stockpiling supplies such as long shelf life foods and hand sanitiser as UK confirmed cases rise. Express.co.uk explores whether salt water could prove effective in curbing the spread of the killer infection.

The number of cases of coronavirus in the UK jumped to 120,067 on Sunday.

The number increased by 5,850 cases in 25 hours.

So far, thousands of people have been tested and 16,060 people have died.

Of the 120,067 cases, while 103,663 are still active cases.

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson implemented a lockdown in March for an initial period of three weeks, but this has now been extended by three weeks.

Downing Street said if the lockdown is ended too quickly “the virus could begin to spread exponentially again”.

The PM’s spokesman said easing restrictions too fast “ultimately will do the most damage to health and the most damage” to the economy.

“If you move too quickly then the virus could begin to spread exponentially again.

“The public will expect us to do everything we can to stop the spread of the virus and protect lives.”

Of the cases in the UK, they are located as follows:

  • England: 90,629
  • Scotland: 8,187
  • Northern Ireland: 2,645
  • Wales: 7,270.

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There are several myths about measures which could help protect you from contracting coronavirus.

One such claim is that rinsing your nose with salt water could help protect you.

There is only limited evidence to suggest it actually helps.

But some swear by rinsing their nose with salt water as a way of recovering more quickly from the common cold.

However, saltwater rinses have not been shown to prevent respiratory infections in the past.

The NHS said: “There is no evidence that regularly rinsing the nose with salt water protects you from coronavirus”.

A top Chinese respiratory expert advised people to rinse their mouths with salt water to prevent infection.

This “cure” was shared widely across social media.

However, it was debunked by other experts.

Expert Zhong Nanshan told CTV News: “No present findings have suggested that saline water can kill the new coronavirus.”

Other myths about coronavirus:

  • Wearing a face mask will protect you: Wearing face masks might appear to be effective but in actual fact will do little to protect you from COVID-19.
  • Pets can be infected: There are ways to catch coronavirus without direct human contact, but pets are not one way in which this is possible.
  • Only older people are at risk: People aged over 60 and those with long-term illnesses may be more susceptible to developing severe symptoms, but anyone can become infected.
  • The summer heat will kill the virus: The summer months may lead to a small decrease in transmission, but it likely will not stop the spread of coronavirus completely.
  • Boiling fresh garlic will cure coronavirus: There is no scientific evidence to substantiate the claim suggesting garlic boiled water will cure coronavirus.
  • Coronavirus is man-made: While experts are still attempting to discover the exact source of the virus, scientists around the world have dismissed these theories.
  • The virus can be spread through the post: Getting a letter or package from China will not put you at risk of contracting the virus as it does not stay alive for long on objects or surfaces according to research.
  • Children cannot get coronavirus: Anyone of any age can get the new coronavirus.
  • Everyone who gets coronavirus will die: The current death rate for the virus is two percent, but officials have said they expect that number to fall.

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