Weekly Health Quiz: Coronavirus, Disinfectants and Google

1 Which of the following is currently the most effective way to protect yourself against coronavirus and prevent its spread?

• Frequently washing your hands for at least 20 seconds using soap and water

  Frequently washing your hands during influenza season and other pandemic outbreaks is a crucial safety measure. Soap very effectively destroys most viruses, including COVID-19. Soap dissolves the fatty membrane that holds the virus together. As the virus falls apart, it is rendered harmless and can easily be washed off under running water. Learn more.

• Wearing a mask when going out in public
• Wearing a mask both at home and in public
• Regularly rinsing your cellphone under running water

2 The nationwide federally funded Electronic Health Records system captures the details of all your health care visits, medical diagnoses, drug prescriptions and vaccine records, and can be accessed by:

• Your employer and co-workers
• Government health agencies like the Social Security Administration, Medicaid and federal and state health and law enforcement agencies

  Your Electronic Health Record can be accessed not only by government health agencies like the Social Security Administration, Medicaid and federal and state health and law enforcement agencies, but also can be shared with authorized third parties such as doctors, health insurance companies, HMOs and other corporations, hospitals, labs, nursing homes and medical researchers. Learn more.

• Your family and friends
• University and school employees

3 Which of the following disinfectants is thought to be the most effective against viral contaminants?

• Distilled white vinegar
• Ammonia
• Accelerated hydrogen peroxide

  Accelerated hydrogen peroxide appears to be the most effective virucide overall. It can kill viruses in as little as 30 seconds. Learn more.

• 90% ethyl alcohol

4 To dampen the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), governments around the world are recommending:

• Getting an untested vaccine
• Wearing a face mask when going out in public
• Stocking up on toilet paper
• Social distancing and self-isolation

  To dampen the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), governments around the world are recommending social distancing and self-isolation. Learn more.

5 Which of the following strategies may be helpful in reducing your risk of coronavirus infection?

• Heat exposure such as sauna bathing or steam baths

  Fever is a core mechanism by which your body fights viral infection. You can simulate a fever by raising your core body temperature in a sauna, steam bath, or by engaging in physical movement to induce sweating. Coronaviruses incubate in your sinuses for about three days before moving down into your lungs, and appears to be destroyed by temperatures around 133 degrees F (56 degrees Celsius), which can easily be reached in a sauna. Learn more.

• Sunlight avoidance
• Cold water immersion
• Breathing exercises

6 The data collected about you by Google, Facebook and other multinational tech companies is:

• Only used by companies to improve their services
• The "raw material" that drives surveillance capitalism

  The biggest tech companies in the world have hijacked our personal data — so-called "behavioral surplus data streams" — without our knowledge or consent and are using it against us to generate profits for themselves. User data is the raw material that drives surveillance capitalism. Learn more.

• Only used to provide consumers with more targeted ads
• Still private and belongs to you, provided you agreed to the privacy statement

7 Which of the following strategies has been shown to effectively boost immune function and/or kill viruses outright, thus lowering your risk of infection such as COVID-19?

• Sauna
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D
• All of the above

  Vitamin C strengthens your immune system and kills pathogens, including viruses, when taken in high doses. Other important immune boosting nutrients are vitamin D, magnesium and zinc. A Korean doctor who's giving patients and hospital staff 100,000 IU's of vitamin D and 20 to 24 grams of vitamin C by IV reports COVID-19 infected patients are getting well in a matter of days. Learn more.