[COVID-19 Fact Check] Can Eating Malatang and Chinese Kimchi Cause Infection?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] "The fourth confirmed patient is said to be an employee working at the ○○ Building. The entire building is being disinfected."

On the 28th, when the detailed movements of the fourth confirmed case of the novel coronavirus (Wuhan pneumonia) in Korea were disclosed, rumors quickly spread around the Yeouido securities district that this patient was an employee of a major conglomerate affiliate. However, this turned out to be false. On the same day, the Korea Communications Standards Commission announced that it would focus on monitoring fake news about the novel coronavirus, but false rumors have continued to spread rapidly. Professor Si Hye-jin of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Gachon University Gil Medical Center advised, "There are many rumors on the internet," and added, "Extreme thoughts can actually hinder the response to the novel coronavirus."

◆Is the fourth confirmed patient an employee of a major Korean conglomerate affiliate?

The subject of the rumor is not the fourth confirmed patient who had contact with 172 people in the Pyeongtaek area, but the second confirmed patient who showed fever and sore throat during quarantine at Gimpo Airport. The second patient, an employee of a major conglomerate, stayed locally for work purposes and entered Korea via Wuhan and Shanghai. The number of contacts is 75, and although there are signs of pneumonia, the patient is in a stable condition.

This patient did not visit the company headquarters after returning to Korea. This is because he was classified as a person under active monitoring upon entry through Gimpo Airport and was diagnosed after a health center examination. The rumor is presumed to have spread because both the fourth and second patients are 55-year-old Korean men. The fourth patient works in the clothing industry and visited Wuhan for tourism before returning via a direct flight.

◆Is it dangerous to eat Chinese food ingredients?

On internet communities, the risk of Chinese food ingredients is spreading like a rumor. Some are even calling for a boycott of Chinese food ingredients such as kimchi, as well as dishes like Malatang, lamb skewers, and hot pot. Since the novel coronavirus is likely transmitted through droplets (saliva droplets), the possibility of infection through food consumption is very low. The likelihood of the virus spreading through food ingredients is also slim. Jung Eun-kyung, Director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, explained, "Chinese food ingredients take a long time to be produced and transported, so the possibility of the virus surviving is very low."

◆Can you get infected just by making eye contact?

The novel coronavirus is likely transmitted through droplets entering the respiratory tract or the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and mouth. There is a possibility of infection if you rub your eyes with hands contaminated with the virus. In fact, in China, medical staff who did not wear protective goggles were infected with the novel coronavirus. However, the idea that infection occurs just by making eye contact is groundless. The virus cannot be transmitted through the air. The rumor that infection occurs simply by making eye contact with an infected person only fuels public anxiety.

◆Is hand sanitizer ineffective?

The virus is killed by hand sanitizers containing about 70% alcohol, so using hand sanitizer is an effective preventive measure. Korean health authorities continue to recommend handwashing. Washing hands with soap under running water for more than 30 seconds is the most effective, but when there is no sink available, it is good to frequently clean hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Director Jung emphasized, "The virus may be on public transportation handrails, mobile phones, doorknobs, etc., so hands should be washed frequently," adding, "Along with cough etiquette, this is the most important preventive rule."