The official death toll from the coronavirus outbreak has now passed 8,312, with infections reported in 156 countries around the world.

Understandably, people are desperate for answers. And, as such, many have been turning to the internet for advice on how best to handle the Covid-19 outbreak. However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has since warned that a global epidemic of misinformation – spreading rapidly through social media platforms and other outlets –poses a serious problem for public health.

“We’re not just fighting an epidemic; we’re fighting an infodemic,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, as reported by The Guardian.

It is for this reason that the NHS has teamed up with Google, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to tackle the spread of coronavirus misinformation, with social media sites are now directing UK users to the official NHS website if they search for coronavirus.

Despite these measures, though, unhelpful and often dangerous claims about the virus continue to be shared widely across the internet.

And so, in a bid to arm you with the health facts you actually need, we here at Stylist have debunked the most enduring coronavirus myths for you.

Myth: vitamin C supplements will stop you from caching Covid-19

Researchers have yet to find any evidence that vitamin C supplements can render people immune to COVID-19 infection. In fact, an analysis of 29 studies including 11,306 participants has concluded that supplementing with 200 mg or more of vitamin C doesn’t even reduce the risk of catching a cold.

However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take it. Indeed, vitamin C serves essential roles in the human body and supports normal immune function. Plus, it also has been shown to reduce cold symptoms, too, so it may help with your aches and pains.

Coronavirus myths and fake-news: please don’t share these viral posts