Search Results for coronavirus

Social media clips revive false claims by David Icke linking 5G and COVID-19

Wireless communications transfer data from one point to another using electromagnetic waves. When traveling through the air, these waves interact with particles and substances, such as oxygen, that can absorb part of their energy. This phenomenon causes the electromagnetic signal to lose strength with distance but doesn’t change the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere nor makes it unavailable to the body. Electromagnetic waves can also interact with biological tissues, but current exposure hasn’t been associated with health problems in people.

Viral memes listing COVID-19 topics about which authorities were allegedly “wrong” rehash debunked misinformation

The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by an unprecedented spread of misinformation, occasionally exacerbated by mixed messages from public health authorities. However, changing recommendations reflect the fact that it takes time to conduct research, particularly amid a global health crisis with a novel pathogen, and authorities changed course as our scientific understanding of COVID-19 evolved over time.

Infection-induced immunity is more unpredictable and poses a higher risk than vaccine-induced immunity

Most people who recover from COVID-19 develop some level of protective immunity. However, this level varies greatly from person to person and might be insufficient in some cases to protect the person against the disease. COVID-19 vaccines tend to generate a more consistent immune response than infection and are also a much safer way of acquiring immunity because they don’t expose the person to the risks of the disease. Vaccination can also benefit COVID-19 survivors by enhancing the protection resulting from infection.

Misinformation superspreaders are thriving on Musk-owned Twitter

Key results 1. A study of 490 “misinformation superspreaders” (here defined as accounts that have repeatedly published popular tweets linking to known misinformation) shows that their collective popularity has significantly grown (on average, +42% interactions per tweet) since Elon Musk took effective control of the platform on 27 October 2022. Accounts from established and credible … Continued

Multiple studies show that face masks reduce the spread of COVID-19; a Cochrane review doesn’t demonstrate otherwise

Randomized controlled trials are considered the gold standard when assessing the effectiveness of an intervention. However, this type of study can vary greatly in quality, particularly in complex interventions such as face masks, affecting the reliability of the results. In this context, many scientists consider that randomized controlled trials should be seen as a part of a more broader evidence including other study designs. When taking those studies into account, evidence suggests that widespread mask usage can reduce community transmission of SARS-CoV-2, especially when combined with other interventions like frequent handwashing and physical distancing.

Moderna didn’t already produce COVID-19 mRNA vaccines before the pandemic; statement by CEO of Moderna misinterpreted

Moderna began to work on mRNA vaccines in 2010 and was already collaborating with the U.S. National Institutes of Health before the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, the company was able to produce around 100,000 doses of mRNA vaccines of any kind. The COVID-19 outbreak in late 2019 and the decision to produce a vaccine against COVID-19 led the company to scale up its manufacturing capacity to address the possibility of an oncoming pandemic.

PCR-based COVID-19 tests aren’t cloning devices and don’t modify the human genome

PCR is a commonly used method to replicate genetic sequences. This is called “molecular cloning”. It is distinct from reproductive cloning, which is the cloning of entire organisms. PCR-based COVID-19 tests are designed to specifically replicate SARS-CoV-2 genetic material that may be contained in people’s collected fluids but don’t contain other genetic material.