Claim reviews
Saliva might be an accurate, less-invasive alternative to nasopharyngeal swabs for COVID-19 diagnosis; more research is needed to standardize its use in molecular testing
CLAIM
There is no need to use nasopharyngeal swabs for COVID-19 testing, mouth swabs can be used instead
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook
Published: 14 Jul 2020
VERDICT
People have died from the coronavirus, contrary to article claiming to report pathologist’s “revelations” on COVID-19
CLAIM
“no one has died from the coronavirus”
SOURCE: Rosemary Frei, Patrick Corbett, OffGuardian
Published: 12 Jul 2020
VERDICT
Nasal swab used for COVID-19 testing does not reach the brain
CLAIM
Nasal swabs used for COVID-19 tests reach the blood-brain barrier and may damage it.
SOURCE: Facebook Users, Facebook
Published: 10 Jul 2020
VERDICT
The June 2020 spike in U.S. COVID-19 cases indicates a rising percentage of infections and is not simply an artifact of more testing
CLAIM
“There's a ‘spike’ in [COVID-19] cases because there's a spike in testing.”
SOURCE: Facebook User, Facebook
Published: 08 Jul 2020
VERDICT
Videos use gas sensors to misleadingly claim that wearing a face mask causes oxygen deficiency
CLAIM
Gas sensors show that wearing a face mask leads to oxygen deficiency and carbon dioxide toxicity
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook
Published: 06 Jul 2020
VERDICT
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
