Claim reviews
COVID-19 cases in the U.S. are mainly detected by highly specific molecular testing, not antibody testing
CLAIM
Antibodies for the common cold produce a positive COVID-19 test; false-positive results from COVID-19 antibody testing are behind the COVID-19 cases reported in the U.S.
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook
Published: 06 Jul 2020
VERDICT
Internet memes based on hearsay claim that hospital laboratories falsify COVID-19 tests to inflate numbers without evidence
CLAIM
Hospital laboratories falsify positive COVID-19 results
SOURCE: Anonymous, Facebook
Published: 04 Jul 2020
VERDICT
Contrary to popular claim on social media, RNA vaccines do not alter our DNA
CLAIM
“Bill Gates explains that the COVID vaccine will use experimental technology and permanently alter your DNA”
SOURCE: Alex Pietrowski, Facebook users, Waking Times
Published: 30 Jun 2020
VERDICT
No scientific evidence indicates that cannabis can prevent or cure COVID-19 in patients
CLAIM
“Cannabis is more effective at preventing and treating COVID-19 than hydroxychloroquine”
SOURCE: Tristan Greene, The Next Web
Published: 30 Jun 2020
VERDICT
COVID-19 is among the leading causes of death worldwide so far in 2020, but beware of incomplete graphs
CLAIM
COVID-19 became a leading cause of death globally by the end of May 2020.
SOURCE: Gavin Wood, Flourish
Published: 27 Jun 2020
VERDICT
OSHA recommends using cloth face coverings at the workplace, contrary to claim by Peggy Hall
CLAIM
“OSHA says masks don't work and violate OSHA oxygen levels”
SOURCE: Peggy Hall, TheHealthyAmerican.org, GreenMedInfo
Published: 24 Jun 2020
VERDICT
No, Bill Gates is not funding COVID-19 vaccines as a way to conduct global surveillance or to depopulate the world
CLAIM
Bill Gates, founder of harmful vaccination campaigns in developing countries, now plans to use COVID-19 vaccines to surveil the population
SOURCE: Ty & Charlene Bollinger, The Truth About Cancer
Published: 24 Jun 2020
VERDICT
People should take precautions against COVID-19 regardless of their blood type
CLAIM
“People with blood type O [are] more protected against COVID-19”
SOURCE: Celia Jean, Jerusalem Post
Published: 22 Jun 2020
VERDICT
People who do not show COVID-19 symptoms can and do transmit it to others; physical distancing and face masks effectively reduce the risk of transmission
CLAIM
The WHO stated that asymptomatic spread of COVID-19 is “very rare”, therefore physical distancing and face masks are not necessary
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook
Published: 14 Jun 2020
VERDICT
Brussels halted 5G rollout in 2019 to study its radiation emissions, not because any negative health effects had been demonstrated
CLAIM
“Brussels is halting their 5G plans due to the negative health effects”; “Evidence ... overwhelmingly suggest[s] that, yes, 5G does pose a major threat.”
SOURCE: Anonymous, worldhealth.net
Published: 11 Jun 2020
VERDICT