At this point, you have most likely heard about the new strain of coronavirus that the World Health Organization has deemed a global health emergency. It is referred to as the 2019 novel coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, or Wuhan coronavirus because it originated in Wuhan, China. What's particularly scary about coronaviruses, in general, is that just like the common cold, there is no specific treatment or cure for them. Once you are sick, it's more about treating the symptoms, which is exactly what 25-year-old teacher Connor Reed says he did. He treated his case of coronavirus with hot toddies made of whiskey and honey, and he is convinced it helped him get better.
More from MamásLatinas: All about the deadly coronavirus & how you can protect your family
As of Tuesday, there have been more than 20,500 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus worldwide, 11 confirmed cases in the United States, and at least 427 deaths. Coronaviruses originate in animals and aren't usually contracted by humans, but some mutate to the point of being transmitted from animals to humans. Humans then do the job of passing it on to other humans.
The craziest thing about Connor Reed's story of beating the coronavirus with hot whiskey and honey is that he didn't even know that he had it. He went to the hospital because he was having a hard time breathing and couldn't get over what he thought was a bad cough. Keep reading to find out more about his story.
Connor Reed is British, but he's been living in China for three years.
He’s originally from North Wales in England, but he's been living in China for three years now. Last summer he moved to Wuhan, China, where the new coronavirus originated, to teach English. A couple of months ago, he went to the hospital because he couldn’t get over a cough and was having trouble breathing. It was so bad that he was in the hospital for two weeks.
He refused to take the antibiotics he was prescribed.
"I did refuse to take the antibiotics the doctors prescribed me because I didn’t want to take any medicines,” he told The Sun. Instead, he used the inhaler that he was given to control his cough and made himself some hot toddies with hot whiskey and honey. “It’s an old-fashioned remedy but it seemed to do the trick,” he said. “I am proof coronavirus can be beaten.”
Connor didn’t even know he had the coronavirus until he was out of the hospital. “It was only when I called back a couple of weeks ago that they told me I’d had the coronavirus,” he said.
Did the hot toddies really cure him?
Again, there is no specific cure for coronaviruses, so a hot toddy is not a cure. The truth is that Connor probably did get some relief from his symptoms by drinking the hot whiskey with honey because of the warmth and alcohol. But what most likely happened is that the virus ran its course. Despite the widely reported deaths due to complications resulting from coronavirus, most people recover on their own.
Keep practicing healthy habits to keep your family safe.
What can you do to lower your family’s risk of getting sick?
- Wash your hands with soap and water frequently.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth without washing your hands first.
- Stay away from anyone who is sick.
Symptoms of coronavirus manifest like a cold and can include headaches, runny nose, sore throat, cough, and muscle aches. Stay home if you are sick, and if you are concerned, go see your health care provider.
