HOUSTON — We are dedicated to answering your COVID-19 questions during this pandemic and that's why our VERIFY Team is hard at work.
“Can mosquitoes spread the virus?"
"Does wearing a mask cause health problems?”
Those are just a couple of questions people continue asking the VERIFY team. Houston Health Authority Dr. David Persse addressed the claims regarding COVID-19 spread, prevention and cures.
Claim: Mosquitoes spread COVID-19.
Persse: "False."
Claim: Heat kills the virus.
Persse: “Sort of true. We do know that heat will slow down the virus a little bit. But clearly, as we've seen here in Houston, it doesn't slow down enough to rely on."
Claim: I can put my mask on the dash of my car in the hot Houston heat, and that will kill COVID-19 if it's on my dash.
Persse: “Your mask on the hood of your car (or) on the dashboard inside your car will not get hot enough to kill COVID-19. That is not a good way to sterilize your mask."
Claim: There is a cure for COVID-19.
Persse: “False.”
Claim: Masks slow the spread of the virus.
Persse: “Masks absolutely slow the spread of the virus. It won't stop it, but it does greatly slow the spread of the virus."
Claim: Masks cause health problems.
Persse: “In general, masks do not cause health problems."