There’s a lot of misinformation and half-truths going around right now about the novel coronavirus. That’s understandable — the virus is very new and doctors and scientists are still learning about how the infection works and best ways to treat it. The news being reported about tests, symptoms, and treatments is conflicting at times, which is confusing. Plus, everyone wants to protect themselves as best they can, so it makes sense that people will try anything to stave off the virus, proven or not.

Here, we break down fact from fiction.

Will zinc supplements protect against the coronavirus?

There is no research yet on whether zinc will impact the novel coronavirus, officially named SARS-CoV-2. However, zinc may interfere with the other six coronaviruses, including the original SARS and the four coronaviruses that cause the common cold.

Whether zinc can prevent infections hasn’t been studied as much as its therapeutic properties. A study from 2010 in cells in a dish — which, it’s important to point out, are not full people — found that zinc blocked replication of the first SARS coronavirus. In humans, however, the data is conflicting. One meta-analysis of seven different studies found that zinc supplements shortened the duration of a cold, which may have been caused by either a coronavirus or a rhinovirus, by 33%. A more recent double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published by the same scientist did not see any difference in cold symptom duration between people who took zinc and those who took a placebo.

Just because you can hold your breath for 10 seconds does not mean you haven’t been infected with the coronavirus.

“If there is an effect of zinc just on common colds, it’s pretty modest, and there’s no information at all about zinc and this particular coronavirus,” says infectious disease expert William Schaffner, MD, a professor of preventive medicine at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. “I’m going to repeat this again: Even if there were an effect, it’s only modest. You can’t take zinc supplements in lieu of doing anything else.”

Verdict: If you feel yourself getting sick, it might be worth taking zinc supplements, but they won’t prevent you from getting the virus.

What about vitamin D?

Former CDC director Tom Frieden, MD, published an opinion piece on Fox News this week stating that taking vitamin D supplements could help boost the immune system, an essential piece of the puzzle in terms of how serious Covid-19 can be.

Vitamins are critical to keeping the body, especially the immune system, healthy. If you are vitamin deficient, it’s a good idea to take a supplement; however, very few people in the U.S. actually are deficient. The one notable exception may be vitamin D.

By some estimates, nearly half of Americans are deficient in vitamin D, which humans synthesize from UV light. Now that most of us are sheltering in place, we’re probably getting even less vitamin D from sun exposure than before, so in theory taking a vitamin D supplement makes sense. In his article, Frieden cites a 2017 meta-analysis that reported people who took daily or weekly vitamin D reduced their risk of developing a respiratory tract infection. However, the benefit was only found in people who were vitamin D deficient; if people were not deficient, there was no benefit. It’s also important to note that there has been no research on vitamin D and Covid-19, specifically.

Verdict: If you’re worried about your vitamin D levels or been told by a doctor you’re deficient, taking a supplement makes sense. But please don’t go to your doctor asking for a test now, and taking vitamin D isn’t an excuse not to be obsessive about hand-washing and adhere to social distancing.

Is it dangerous to take ibuprofen in the time of coronavirus?

Elemental has covered this in depth elsewhere, but there is no published evidence that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen suppress the immune system or exacerbate Covid-19.

Verdict: Either ibuprofen or acetaminophen (Tylenol) are safe and effective to alleviate pain and fever.

Can gargling with warm salt water or drinking a lot of water protect against the virus?

Gargling with warm salt water is a tried-and-true home remedy to relieve symptoms of a sore throat, but that’s pretty much all it can do. It does not work as an antiviral to prevent or resolve an infection. (Also, a sore throat is not a common symptom of Covid-19.)

“If you want to gargle with salt water three times a day, fine. That will make your throat feel better, but it won’t protect your throat against the virus,” Schaffner says.

Hydration is definitely important if you’re sick, especially if you have a fever or diarrhea, which can cause the body to lose moisture even if you’re not sweating. There’s no evidence, however, that drinking water will wash the virus out of your mouth and prevent you from getting sick.

Schaffner says that on the surface, it makes sense that someone might think that if the virus has to attach itself to the cells in the back of the throat, they could drink some water and send the virus down the intestinal tract instead. But, he says, “I’m afraid it doesn’t work that way. Drinking water is good because it keeps your hydration up, and that’s a good thing. But it will not protect you against the virus.”

Verdict: Gargle salt water if you have a sore throat to relieve your symptoms, and drink water because it’s good for you and hydration is important. Neither of these acts will protect you from the coronavirus.