Search Results for covid-19

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.

German Ministry employee makes unsupported claim that COVID-19 pandemic is a global false alarm in widely circulated yet unsolicited opinion article

Approximately 400,000 people have died worldwide in the past six months from COVID-19. Current evidence indicates that the impact would have been more devastating without the implementation of control measures. Epidemiological data suggest that early intervention has successfully slowed the spread of COVID-19, allowing governments to manage the outbreak and minimize secondary mortality due to other causes.

Article inaccurately claims that coronavirus vaccine by Oxford researchers caused animal test subjects to develop COVID-19

Preliminary results from small-scale animal studies suggest that the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford researchers may be protective against viral pneumonia. However, the researchers also detected viral genetic material in nasal passages in vaccinated monkeys, leading scientists to caution that the vaccine may not prevent virus shedding and its spread. Financial backing for the production of the Oxford vaccine has come from several sources, including the U.K. government and charities.

Facebook posts misinterpret a study of 455 contacts of an asymptomatic COVID-19 carrier to claim that asymptomatic spread does not occur

Many Facebook posts have misinterpreted a study which examined the incidence of COVID-19 infections among 455 people who had been exposed to an asymptomatic carrier, claiming that it showed masks are not needed or that asymptomatic transmission does not occur. However, it is clear from reading the full study that all 455 contacts wore at least a face mask, except while eating or drinking, during exposure. In fact, the study’s authors concluded that “Effective prevention and control measures are helpful to prevent COVID-19 spread of asymptomatic carriers.” Scientific evidence also suggests that asymptomatic spread can and does occur.

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

The article contains numerous inaccuracies about COVID-19. Firstly, while coagulopathy (blood clotting disorder) does occur in some COVID-19 patients, the evidence to date indicates that viral pneumonia is the main cause of death in COVID-19 patients, not clotting disorders as claimed. Secondly, antibiotics, antivirals, anti-inflammatories and anticoagulants are already being used in current COVID-19 treatment protocols, contrary to the article’s suggestion that they are not. Finally, ventilators and intensive care units are crucial for treating COVID-19 patients, in spite of the article’s claim that these are “not needed”.