Taking antibiotics will not prevent novel coronavirus infections. Antibacterial agents such as antibiotics have antibacterial or bactericidal effects, but the pathogen of novel coronavirus infections is a virus. Viruses do not have cell walls, nucleases, or ribosomes, and rely on the host cell for all functions; therefore, antibiotics do not kill viruses. Taking antibiotics not only cannot prevent novel coronavirus infections, but can even kill the normal flora inside the body, allowing pathogenic bacteria to take advantage of the situation and thus endanger lives.