COVID-19 Fact Check: Does This Popular Breathing Test Theory Confirm You're Free From Coronavirus?

Dry cough, fever, and tiredness are the most common symptoms found in a coronavirus patient, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The COVID-19 is a respiratory illness, and there is information on the internet that if you can hold your breath for ten seconds or more, you don’t have coronavirus.

The WHO has come forward to debunk this myth doing the rounds on the internet.

“Being able to hold your breath for ten seconds or more without coughing or feeling discomfort does not mean you are free from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) or any other lung disease,” the WHO wrote in a Facebook post.

According to the WHO, apart from the common symptoms, some people may develop severe forms of the disease like pneumonia.

The WHO stressed that the only way to confirm if you have the coronavirus is a lab test.

“The best way to confirm if you have the virus-producing COVID-19 disease is with a laboratory test. You cannot confirm it with this breathing exercise, which can be even dangerous.”

Meanwhile, the latest data compiled by Johns Hopkins University confirms the death of close to 34,000 people due to coronavirus. More than 700,000 people have tested positive with COVID-19.

President Donald Trump said in a news briefing on Sunday, March 29, that the administration will be extending the stay-at-home guidelines to April 30 to contain the coronavirus spread in the U.S, Fox News reported.

“The modeling estimates that the peak in death rate is likely to hit in two weeks. I will say it again. The peak, the highest point of death rates, remember this, is likely to hit in two weeks... Therefore, we will be extending our guidelines to April 30, to slow the spread,” the president said.

During the briefing, he mentioned that two health insurers – Cigna and Humana – have declared that they will waive coinsurance, copays, and deductibles for any coronavirus-related treatments.