Are antibiotics effective against the new coronavirus infection?

No. Antibiotics do not work against viruses. They are only used to treat bacterial infections. The new coronavirus is a virus, so antibiotics should not be used for its prophylaxis and treatment. Nevertheless, antibiotics can be prescribed to patients admitted to hospitals to treat second bacterial infections.

Can regular nose washing with salt solution protect against coronavirus?

No. There are no reliable scientific data that regular nose washing can protect against coronavirus. According to some data, regular nose washing with salt solution can speed up recovery from common cold. There is no evidence that regular nose washing is an effective preventive means against respiratory diseases.

Is it true that only senior citizens can contract coronavirus? Is young generation also susceptible to the virus?

All age groups can contract COVID-19. It seems that the elderly and the people with certain diseases (diabetes, asthma, cardiovascular diseases, etc.) are prone to severe form of the coronavirus infection. WHO recommends to people of all age groups to take prophylactic measures, e.g. to wash hands thoroughly and to practice good cough hygiene.

Can coronavirus be contracted from pets?

Nowadays there are seven known types of coronavirus that cause respiratory diseases. The new COVID-19 is among them. According to modern data, pets (dogs, cats, hamsters, etc.) cannot be the source of the infection. According to WHO data, there are no fixed cases of the disease of cats and dogs. There are no fixed cases of COVID-19 spread by pets either.