Steam
While May is already drawing to a close, let's take a closer look at April of this year. Valve has published a list of those games that appeared on Steam last month and generated the most sales. In the calculation, however, only the box-office results from the first two weeks after the release count - everything else is dropped.In these top 20, which incidentally is listed without a special order, is the action role-playing game NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139, which celebrated its Steam debut on April 23, 2021 and apparently attracted a lot of people. Also included is the loot shooter Outriders from the development studio People Can Fly, which was launched on April 1st. The launch and the time afterwards were shaped by a few problems. However, that doesn't seem to have really hurt the game's sales success. Milestone's MotoGP 21 was obviously well received by racing game fans, which makes the placement in the top 20 clear. Also interesting is the fact that almost a third of the games are remastered versions of already known titles. Here is the list in no particular order:
Cozy Grove CryoFall Element TD 2 - Multiplayer Tower Defense First Class Trouble Hobo: Tough Life Legend of Keepers: Career of a Dungeon Manager MotoGP 21 NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139 ... Outriders R-Type Final 2 SaGa Frontier Remastered TaleSpire The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV The Slormancer Total War: ROME REMASTERED Totally Accurate Battle Simulator Trials of Fire Ultimate Admiral: Age of Sail Voxel Tycoon Source: Steam
This steam inhalation device cannot prevent or cure Covid-19 infection, health experts say
Copyright AFP 2017-2021. All rights reserved.
Several images of a steam inhalation device have been shared repeatedly in multiple Facebook posts alongside a claim that it could help prevent or cure Covid-19 infection. The claim is false: health experts said there is no evidence that inhaling steam can prevent or cure Covid-19, warning the purported treatment could be harmful.The images were shared in a Facebook post here on May 9, 2021.
The post’s Sinhala-language caption translates to English in part as: “A device produced to meet the need of the hour, using modern technology was opened for public use today.
“This has been installed near the Buddha shrine... If you visit the area during set times, you will be able to get good steam inhalation.”
The post suggests the device could be used to prevent or even cure Covid-19 infection.
The phrase “need of the hour” refers to a surge in Covid-19 infections in Sri Lanka. As of May 25, 2021 more than 160,000 infections and over 1,200 Covid-19 related deaths have been recorded in Sri Lanka.
The same images were shared here and here alongside a similar claim.
The claim is false: health experts say there is no scientific evidence that steam inhalation helps prevent or cure Covid-19.
AFP has previously debunked claims that steam inhalation can treat or cure people infected with Covid-19 here and here.
Dr. Ashan Pathirana, from Sri Lanka’s health bureau, told AFP that the steam inhalation device pictured in the misleading posts may increase the risk of Covid-19 infection through cross-contamination.
“The device has been installed with good intentions, however, it is counterproductive as it poses an unnecessary risk to those using it,” he said on May 13, 2021.
“Since it is open for the public and also encourages the gathering of a crowd, such a device actually increases risk of contamination.”
“Moreover, there is no basis behind the belief that steam inhalation helps prevent Covid-19 infections”.
The misleading claim has also been debunked by other Sri Lankan experts.
The claim was discussed in this online event hosted by the Ceylon College of Physicians on Covid-19 on May 08, 2021.
At about the 33-minute mark, Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama from Sri Lanka’s Infectious Diseases Hospital says steam inhalation cannot prevent or treat Covid-19 infection.
“Steaming may bring a sense of relief for patients experiencing congestion but it will not prevent an infection,” he says.
“We observe some people choose to inhale steam believing it will stop the infection but not wear a mask.”
“So we request the public to stop chasing after misleading, unnecessary claims and follow the basic, tried and tested methods to protect themselves from this disease.”
The WHO has compiled information here which debunks misleading claims about purported coronavirus “cures”. As of May 24, 2021, there is no “cure” for the disease.
More than one billion Covid-19 vaccine doses have been administered worldwide in a bid to reduce the chances of infection, serious illness and death from the disease, AFP reported on April 25, 2021.