COVID-19 is at least an order of magnitude more deadly than seasonal flu, according to current estimates

CLAIM
“COVID-19 [is] less deadly than [seasonal] flu”

SOURCE: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Facebook

Published: 01 Oct 2020

VERDICT

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