evidence: The coronavirus remains in the throat for 4 days, causing sore throat and coughing before it reaches the lungs. Drinking a lot of water and gargling with warm water and salt or vinegar eliminates the virus. "While it is true that coronavirus can cause a sore throat and gargling with warm water may make it feel better, it has no direct effect on the virus." [...] You can avoid the virus by drinking warm water every 15 minutes.