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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

Detecting more COVID-19 cases alone does not necessarily indicate that the epidemic is worsening, as it could merely result from an expanded testing capacity. A more useful metric for understanding the recent spike in U.S. cases is the proportion of tests with a positive result—called the positivity rate—which takes into account any variations in the total number of tests being performed so that actual epidemiological dynamics can be assessed. During the second half of June 2020, the positivity rate, together with the number of people visiting hospitals due to COVID-19-like illness increased. Taken together, both observations indicate that the COVID-19 epidemic is regaining strength, and that the increase in reported cases is not solely due to increased testing capacity, but due to more infections in the community.

Videos use gas sensors to misleadingly claim that wearing a face mask causes oxygen deficiency

Cloth face coverings and face masks are generally safe. Except in the case of unusual environments such as confined or closed spaces, using face coverings or face masks is very unlikely to place someone at risk of oxygen deficiency. The gas sensors used in these videos are not intended for measuring rapid changes in oxygen and carbon dioxide levels that occur with breathing, hence the measurements shown in the videos do not accurately reflect oxygen and carbon dioxide levels of inhaled air. The pores in cloth coverings and face masks are large enough to permit gas molecules like oxygen and carbon dioxide to flow freely.

COVID-19 cases in the U.S. are mainly detected by highly specific molecular testing, not antibody testing

The number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. is a combination of both confirmed and probable cases. Confirmed cases are detected by highly specific molecular testing for SARS-CoV-2, whereas probable cases may involve antibody testing in part. It is correct that antibody testing is prone to false-positives, because such tests may also detect antibodies against other coronaviruses besides SARS-CoV-2, such as those that cause the common cold. However, the breakdown of COVID-19 case numbers clearly shows that confirmed cases, rather than probable cases, comprise the bulk of COVID-19 cases.

Internet memes based on hearsay claim that hospital laboratories falsify COVID-19 tests to inflate numbers without evidence

There is no evidence that hospital laboratories have falsified the number of COVID-19 positives. While false-positives can occur, experts agree that they are a rare event. On the contrary, false-negatives are hard to control as they can be due to many different factors. Failing to correctly identify infected people may favor the spreading of the disease and constitute a public health risk.

Contrary to popular claim on social media, RNA vaccines do not alter our DNA

Previous studies have demonstrated that RNA vaccines are generally safe. Studies examining the potential integration of nucleic acid vaccines into DNA have shown that RNA from a vaccine does not alter DNA. RNA from a vaccine is also very unlikely to cause autoimmunity, as RNA is very short-lived, being quickly degraded by cells after it has been used to make a protein, hence RNA does not persist long enough to cause autoimmune disorders, which are chronic in nature. In fact, some nucleic acid vaccines are being developed to treat autoimmune diseases.

No scientific evidence indicates that cannabis can prevent or cure COVID-19 in patients

The World Health Organization recognizes some therapeutic uses of cannabinoids. A recent scientific study reported that some cannabis strains might modulate the expression of ACE2, the viral receptor of SARS-CoV-2. However, the study does not present data on clinical outcomes in animals or humans during infection nor does it test if the cannabis extracts affect the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2. It is thus impossible to know whether these specific cannabis strains could prevent or cure COVID-19.

OSHA recommends using cloth face coverings at the workplace, contrary to claim by Peggy Hall

OSHA encourages workers to use face masks or cloth face coverings at work, in accordance with recommendations by the U.S. CDC for reducing community transmission of COVID-19. At the moment, the use of face masks or coverings are not mandated by OSHA, but left at the employer’s discretion. Cloth face coverings are generally safe to use and do not lead to oxygen deficiency, since gas molecules like oxygen and carbon dioxide are much smaller than the pores in fabric, and pass through the covering easily. By blocking much larger respiratory droplets, which transmit the virus, face masks and coverings help to protect others in the community and limit COVID-19 spread.

No, Bill Gates is not funding COVID-19 vaccines as a way to conduct global surveillance or to depopulate the world

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has committed millions to the improvement of health outcomes in developing countries through vaccination campaigns, becoming a prominent target of the anti-vaccine groups. During the last decade, the foundation has been also involved in the development of health-related technology which, along with its active support of the research of COVID-19 treatments and vaccines during the outbreak, has arisen conspiracy theories worldwide. The claim that Gates wants to use COVID-19 vaccines to track the population are unsupported. The vaccines used in the initiatives funded by the Gates Foundation in Africa and Asia were approved and safe.

People should take precautions against COVID-19 regardless of their blood type

Blood type has been linked to risk or protection of various diseases. While a few studies have reported an association between Type O blood and a lower incidence of COVID-19 infection, scientists have warned that there is not enough evidence to establish a causal association. Some of the studies used to support the claim that type O blood protects against COVID-19 did not account for certain confounding factors in their analysis, such as pre-existing medical conditions known to influence COVID-19 risk and severity. People should continue to take precautions to prevent infection, regardless of their blood type.

People who do not show COVID-19 symptoms can and do transmit it to others; physical distancing and face masks effectively reduce the risk of transmission

The WHO uses the scientific definition of “asymptomatic”, which refers to people who never develop COVID-19 symptoms during infection with SARS-CoV-2. It is inaccurate to refer to all people who are not showing symptoms as “asymptomatic”, because presymptomatic people also appear healthy initially yet can still transmit the virus to others while showing no symptoms. As such, practicing physical distancing and using face masks or face coverings remain necessary for breaking the chain of transmission.