Last Updated on May 21, 2021 by Team THIP
Quick Take
A video posted on YouTube shows tap water is testing positive of COVID when tested with rapid test strips. The claim associated with the video is tap water can carry Coronavirus. We term the claim as mostly false.
The Claim
The video published on YouTube is titled, ““tap water tests positive”. The 2min19sec video shows a person putting the test strips under tap water which then displays 2 lines indicating a positive result.
The video can be seen here. A screenshot is given below.
Fact Check
What is wrong with the video?
The video shows a person putting the test strips under tap water and getting test results instantly. The antigen test strips typically takes around 15 to 30 minutes to show results. It is unlikely that the test strip showed results within seconds unless it is tampered with or is defective.
Also medical professionals claim that antigen tests are less accurate as compared to RT PCR tests. Hence, it can also be a case of false positive.
Can tap water transmit Coronavirus?
No evidence.
Researchers have earlier found the presence of SARS Coronavirus in faeces of some COVID-19 patients. Hence, there is always a risk of the virus managing to transmit through untreated waste water.
The CDC believes that the chance of the spread of the virus through recreational waters is low, researchers do not rule out the possibility in totality. In a review done in this regard, researchers advised “further research is warranted.”
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