The novel coronavirus epidemic is in fact two outbreaks: first, the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the disease covid-19; second, an outbreak of misinformation. In a pandemic, misinformation can be as dangerous as the virus itself. For example, panic induced by rumors can result in the “worried well” overwhelming a health system, reducing its ability to care for those who genuinely need treatment. Here are five salient myths about covid-19.