Claim reviews
To date, no therapy has been proven effective for preventing or treating COVID-19, contrary to claim by Dolores Cahill
CLAIM
There is no need for social distancing because we have a treatment for COVID-19
SOURCE: Dolores Cahill, The HighWire
Published: 28 May 2020
VERDICT
The main cause of death in COVID-19 patients is respiratory insufficiency arising from viral pneumonia, not clotting disorder as claimed in viral social media posts
CLAIM
"Autopsies performed by the Italian pathologists [have] shown that [COVID-19] is not pneumonia but it is disseminated intravascular coagulation"
SOURCE: Chinonyerem Emmanuella, Facebook users, GistFlash, Facebook
Published: 26 May 2020
VERDICT
Mortality in the U.S. noticeably increased during the first months of 2020 compared to previous years
CLAIM
The U.S. is not losing “tons more lives in 2020” compared to 2019 (18,433) ... the increase is virtually non-existent
SOURCE: Candace Owens, Joe Hoft, Facebook, Gateway Pundit
Published: 22 May 2020
VERDICT
Claim that the Amish are healthier because they opt out of all vaccines is incorrect
CLAIM
“The unvaccinated Amish rarely get cancer, autism, or heart disease.”
SOURCE: Mark Sloan, EndAllDisease
Published: 20 May 2020
VERDICT
The first SARS-CoV-2 infections in humans occurred during fall 2019, but not enough evidence exists to confirm a global spread before early 2020
CLAIM
“Coronavirus quickly spread around the world as early as October 2019”
SOURCE: Hashem Al-Ghaili, Facebook
Published: 19 May 2020
VERDICT
No evidence that using a face mask helps coronavirus enter the brain, contrary to claim by Russell Blaylock
CLAIM
'New evidence shows wearing face mask can help coronavirus enter the brain and pose more health risk, warn expert'
SOURCE: Russell Blaylock, Anonymous, The Science Times, Technocracy
Published: 19 May 2020
VERDICT
Contrary to claims in viral social media posts, the novel coronavirus was not man-made nor patented before outbreak
CLAIM
The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 was lab-created and patented; SARS-CoV-2 is not a new virus; COVID-19 pandemic was man-made and planned
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook, Twitter
Published: 15 May 2020
VERDICT
Vaccines do not cause mercury toxicity or autism, contrary to claim in London Real video
CLAIM
“Autism is nothing more than mercury toxicity“; vaccine ingredients are toxic
SOURCE: Rashid Buttar, London Real
Published: 15 May 2020
VERDICT
Wearing face masks does not cause hypercapnia or affect the immune system
CLAIM
Wearing face masks can cause carbon dioxide toxicity; can weaken immune system
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook
Published: 13 May 2020
VERDICT
Current evidence suggests that COVID-19 may have a higher fatality rate than the flu, but a definitive conclusion requires more studies
CLAIM
Antibody tests support what’s been obvious: Covid-19 is much more lethal than the flu
SOURCE: Joel Achenbach, Washington Post
Published: 12 May 2020
VERDICT
