Now, Let’s Do a Few #FactChecks, for Safety…
Holiday Wine Cellar has committed to providing their guests, team members, and community with [SAFETY], Service, Selection, Tradition, and Cleanliness, since 1965. We thought we’d also take this opportunity to assist with a few #FactChecks – thanks to Snopes.com for hosting a vast collection of go-to resources for fact-checking [mis]information to assist with what some are calling an #infodemic. Also, thanks to Wellnessmama for the great DIY hand sanitizer recipes. Remember folks: Safety first, second, & third!
A DIY hand sanitizer made with Vodka can be used to fight the new coronavirus.
FALSE – Vodka canNOT be an ingredient used to make effective hand sanitizer. Some articles state that Vodka containing at least 60% alcohol was required to create an effective hand sanitizer; others simply said that any vodka would do. The CDC writes that people can use an “alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol” if soap and water are not available. But most vodkas only contain 40%. [See full Snopes report here.]
Strong Hand Sanitizer Recipe
For a more potent hand sanitizer that performs like commercial versions (without the triclosan), try this recipe. If you work in a hospital, this might be a good one for your personal use. This recipe is not for kids.
Ingredients
- 1 TBSP rubbing alcohol
- 1/2 tsp vegetable glycerin (optional)
- 1/4 cup aloe vera gel
- 20 drops Germ Destroyer oil
- distilled water (colloidal silver/ionic silver adds antibacterial power if available)
- other essential oils (just for scent)
Instructions
- To make, mix aloe vera gel, optional glycerin, and rubbing alcohol in a small bowl.
- Add cinnamon essential oil and tea tree oil along with a drop or two of any other oils you want to add for scent. Lemongrass, orange, lavender, and peppermint are good choices.
- Mix well and add distilled water (or colloidal/ionic silver) to thin to desired consistency.
- Use a small funnel or medicine dropper to transfer hand sanitizer into spray or pump type bottles.
- Use as you would any other type of hand sanitizer.
Strongest Homemade Hand Sanitizer Recipe (5 Minute Recipe)
The CDC recommends at least 60% alcohol in hand sanitizer to battle viruses effectively. This formula follows this percentage and adds aloe vera for gentleness and essential oils for extra virus-fighting.
Ingredients:
- 2/3 cup rubbing alcohol (70% or higher)
- 2 Tablespoons aloe vera (If unable to find aloe vera, glycerin is a good substitute)
- 20 drops Germ Destroyer Essential Oil. (You can also use Germ Fighter which is stronger but not recommended for use on kids)
Instructions:
- Mix all ingredients and combine in a spray bottle. Use as needed.
Notes
- Always check with a doctor or healthcare provider before using essential oils, especially on children, or if you have a medical condition.
- Using fresh aloe vera gel isn’t as stable for counter storage; use a commercial brand.
If you like these DIY Sanitizer recipes from WellnessMama, also try her DIY disinfecting wipes for kitchen counters or bathrooms.
Sales of Corona beer dropped sharply in early 2020 because consumers mistakenly associated the brand name with the new coronavirus.
FALSE: An article misleadingly implied that the Corona brand had experienced a steep drop-off in sales because buyers were scared off by its putative link to the coronavirus: Makers of Corona report £132,000,000 loss as a result of coronavirus.
However, what the text of the article reported was not that consumers had suddenly become “afraid” of Corona beer, but that multiple brands of beer (not just Corona) were experiencing relative sales slumps in China. “The world’s biggest brewing giant, which is behind the Corona, Budweiser and Stella Artois brands, forecast first-quarter earnings will tumble by about 10% after the virus outbreak saw demand slump in China as it also coincided with the Chinese New Year, sending its shares 8% lower.”
See full Snopes report here.
COVID-19 Found in Packages of Toilet Paper.
On March 10, 2020, Now8News published an article positing that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that COVID-19, a disease caused by the new coronavirus, had been found in packages of toilet paper and that people should start using a wet washcloth to clean themselves instead. Now8News is a junk news site that traffics in misinformation. Snopes has been debunking misinformation from Now8News since at least 2015.
A noted Pathologist Wrote A Viral Coronavirus Safety Advice Letter.
TRUE – In the late 1970s, as professor of pathology at the UCSD, James Robb published some of the earliest descriptions of coronaviruses. In addition, Robb published a book chapter on this class of viruses for “Comprehensive Virology.” And in February 2020, Robb sent the above letter outlining common-sense solutions to preventing disease transmission.
The portion of the safety message that garnered the most attention (and memes), however, was the pathologist’s recommendation of zinc lozenges:
Stock up now with zinc lozenges. These lozenges have been proven to be effective in blocking coronavirus (and most other viruses) from multiplying in your throat and nasopharynx. Use as directed several times each day when you begin to feel ANY “cold-like” symptoms beginning. It is best to lie down and let the lozenge dissolve in the back of your throat and nasopharynx. Cold-Eeze lozenges is one brand available, but there are other brands available.
See full Snopes report here.
Snopes.com reached out to Robb to ask if he was the author of this letter. Via email, he told Snopes that he did indeed write it. The letter was never meant to be for anyone besides his family and close friends. It was not intended to be an advertisement for any specific product. While Robb does recommend zinc lozenges (of any brand, he told Snopes), he would NOT describe the product as the silver bullet solution to the outbreak.
Other Tips & Tricks To Stay Well
The idiot’s guide to coronavirus from [an] emergency physician [Rada Jones, MD] shared an extensive list of dos & do not’s: “Don’t believe all the stuff you read on social media. Misinformation has become an infodemic. Don’t share it either. Wash your hands.”
For more tips on protecting against the coronavirus, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tip sheet here.
To assist in the safety of yourself & others (while making it fun) check out WashYourLyrics.com. Create a personalized hand-washing meme to your favorite song, like the one below with OutKast’s So Fresh, So Clean:
