Claim reviews
The total number of COVID-19 deaths thus far exceeds the number of abortions over two days worldwide
CLAIM
“More babies will die by abortion in two days than all the coronavirus deaths thus far”
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook
Published: 30 Sep 2020
VERDICT
COVID-19 has caused many deaths due to high virus transmission, despite its relatively small infection fatality ratio
CLAIM
COVID-19 mortality rates are very low, therefore COVID-19 is not an important public health concern; if you are 70+ years old, you have a 0.054% chance of dying from COVID-19
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook, Fox News
Published: 29 Sep 2020
VERDICT
Using face masks does not increase the risk of skin or oral infections
CLAIM
Masks are dirty and cause bacterial overgrowth, skin infections, and “mask mouth, [which is] a new medical condition caused by wearing masks all day”
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook
Published: 28 Sep 2020
VERDICT
COVID-19 vaccines do not modify the human genome and do not involve hydrogels; hydrogels are not internet-connecting devices
CLAIM
Hydrogels are part of the genome-modifying COVID-19 mRNA vaccines' delivery system; hydrogels will connect you to the internet
SOURCE: Facebook User, Facebook
Published: 25 Sep 2020
VERDICT
The genetic features of the virus causing COVID-19 are compatible with natural evolution, and therefore, don’t prove that the virus was constructed
CLAIM
“[G]enetic evidence within the Spike gene of SARS-Cov-2 genome […] does exist and suggest that the SARS-CoV-2 genome should be a product of genetic manipulation”; “The characteristics and pathogenic effects of SARS-CoV-2 are unprecedented”
SOURCE: Li-Meng Yan, Zenodo
Published: 22 Sep 2020
VERDICT
Tuberculosis, the flu, and COVID-19 differ in disease prevalence and burden, requiring different public health responses
CLAIM
“Why don’t we wear masks for [tuberculosis]? Because CNN hasn’t instructed you to.”
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook
Published: 21 Sep 2020
VERDICT
No vaccine contains strains of both the flu and the virus that causes COVID-19; COVID-19 is not the flu
CLAIM
The U.S. CDC encourages the use of a “[COVID-19] flu shot” on children.
SOURCE: Facebook user, Facebook
Published: 20 Sep 2020
VERDICT
The number of COVID-19 cases reported is based on a highly specific diagnostic test for COVID-19; no confusion with flu or common cold is possible
CLAIM
“It's NOT a SECOND WAVE of COVID-19 coming soon. It's the NORMAL COLD / FLU SEASON”
SOURCE: Facebook Users, Facebook
Published: 18 Sep 2020
VERDICT
Cloth masks are effective at reducing virus transmission because it spreads in respiratory droplets, which are larger than smoke particles and the pores in fabric
CLAIM
Cloth masks cannot block smoke particles which are larger than viruses, so masks cannot stop virus transmission
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook
Published: 15 Sep 2020
VERDICT
Misinterpreted New York Times report leads to false claim that the number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. is inflated by up to 90%
CLAIM
COVID-19 case numbers are inflated due to PCR test sensitivity; “90% of positive COVID-19 tests should be negative”
SOURCE: Liz Wheeler, Steve Deace, One America News Network, The Blaze
Published: 10 Sep 2020
VERDICT
