Claim reviews
People infected with SARS-CoV-2 can transmit the virus to others, even if they do not show symptoms of the disease and are not considered sick
CLAIM
“The greatest trick the CDC ever pulled was convincing the world you can be sick without having symptoms”
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook
Published: 27 Aug 2020
VERDICT
Altered image falsely suggests that restaurant staff in Maine are required to wear dog cone-style face visors to protect against COVID-19
CLAIM
“Governor of Maine orders restaurant staff to wear COVID visors like dog cones”
SOURCE: Sherri Tenpenny, Paul Joseph Watson, Twitter, Summit News
Published: 27 Aug 2020
VERDICT
Listicle of “facts” about COVID-19 contains numerous inaccurate and misleading claims
CLAIM
“The overall lethality of [COVID-19] (IFR) is about 0.1% to 0.3% and thus in the range of a severe influenza”
SOURCE: Anonymous, Swiss Policy Research
Published: 26 Aug 2020
VERDICT
Current COVID-19 mortality rate does not predict the future probability of dying from the disease
CLAIM
“Chance of NOT dying from Covid-19: 99.96%”
SOURCE: Facebook User, Facebook
Published: 21 Aug 2020
VERDICT
Flawed “study” incorrectly claims that countries adopting hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19 experienced reduced mortality rates
CLAIM
Large country-randomized controlled trial in 2.7 billion people shows 79.1% lower death rate in COVID-19 patients treated with hydroxychloroquine
SOURCE: Anonymous, CovidAnalysis
Published: 17 Aug 2020
VERDICT
Sweden’s COVID-19 mortality is higher than in most European countries; no evidence whether or how the absence of lockdown impacted this outcome
CLAIM
“Sweden COVID-19 Death Rate Lower Than Spain, Italy and U.K., Despite Never Having Lockdown”
SOURCE: Soo Kim, Newsweek
Published: 16 Aug 2020
VERDICT
Vaccines undergo strict safety testing before they are licensed for use in the U.S. and many other countries; no validity to the claim of a 33% “death rate” from COVID-19 vaccine
CLAIM
“Would you take a vaccine with a 33% death rate to feel safe from a virus with a .06% death rate?”
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook
Published: 15 Aug 2020
VERDICT
Contrary to claim in viral Facebook post, the flu vaccine does work and certain types of cancers can be cured
CLAIM
“Can't make a vaccine that works for influenza. No vaccine for RSV. Can't cure cancer. But they sure as shit can make a vaccine in 6 months for an illness that they STILL don't understand”
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook
Published: 09 Aug 2020
VERDICT
Hydroxychloroquine, alone or in combination with azithromycin, found ineffective for treating COVID-19 in large clinical trials
CLAIM
“Hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin and zinc cure [COVID-19]”
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook
Published: 07 Aug 2020
VERDICT
Wearing masks aims at slowing SARS-CoV-2 circulation, not protecting against a certain death
CLAIM
If masks were effective and necessary, non-mask wearers should be dead by now
SOURCE: Facebook Users, Facebook
Published: 07 Aug 2020
VERDICT