SAN DIEGO — As the coronavirus pandemic continues, people are asking more and more questions about it. Yes, there's a lot of misinformation out there.
News 8 viewers have been sending us coronavirus questions daily, and we want to do our best to answer them all.
The most recent questions were about the weather, gas pumps, as well as a report that military tanks were arriving in San Diego to help combat the spread.
Let's start with the first question. Will warmer weather lead to a decline in coronavirus cases like what we see with the flu?
"We really don't know," said Dr. Georgine Nanos, doctor and CEO of the Kind Health Group.
Nanos says there's still some uncertainty because COVID-19 is new.
“A lot of viruses and bacteria are sturdier in cold weather and they stick around longer like the flu and we hope that's the case with coronavirus and the weather gets warmer we'll see less of it, but we really don't know yet," said Nanos.
On its website, the CDC provided a similar answer:
“At this time, it is not known whether the spread of COVID-19 will decrease when weather becomes warmer. There is much more to learn about the transmissibility, severity, and other features associated with COVID-19 and investigations are ongoing."
Next, what about gas pumps? Can the virus be transmitted there?
While it is true COVID-19 lives on surfaces, it's not the main source of transmission, so chances are low. Plus, there haven't been any verified gas pump cases as of yet.
According to the CDC:
“It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.”
Either way, it's crucial to use caution. Nanos suggested keeping supplies in your car.
“I keep alcohol wipes, and hand sanitizers, and gloves [in my car]," said Nanos.
Finally, there's a viral video showing military tanks on a train running through Downtown San Diego. Similar videos have been seen in other cities. Our investigative unit looked into it and found that while the San Diego video is real, it’s a few years old.
Keep in mind, that's the way military vehicles are usually transported. The acting Homeland Security Secretary even tweeted about it saying: "This is not true."
If you see a story online or hear a rumor you want verified, let us know. Email us at verify@kfmb.com.