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Articles tagged with: SARS-CoV-2
ARTICLE REVIEWS
Potential role for T cells in COVID-19 immunity accurately reported in National Geographic article
in National Geographic, by Carrie Arnold
— 19 Aug 2020
"The article accurately discusses the recent findings about the presence/relevance of T cell response against COVID-19. Indeed, both arms of adaptive immunity, humoral and cellular..
People who do not show symptoms can contribute to significant COVID-19 transmission, contrary to CNBC report
in CNBC, by William Feuer, Noah Higgins-Dunn
— 10 Jun 2020
there is already “abundant data” showing that people who are not showing symptoms—which could include asymptomatic, presymptomatic, and paucisymptomatic individuals—compris...
CLAIM REVIEWS
COVID-19 vaccines are not expected to be available for the public within several months, contrary to viral claim on social media
CLAIM
“The Government has released their initial plans to force a vaccine on everyone”; “Three potential vaccines are currently in Stage 3 trials in the United States and could be ready in weeks”
SOURCE: Mac Slavo, SHTFplan, Before it’s news
Published: 04 Oct 2020
VERDICT
The virus causing COVID-19 most likely evolved in natural wildlife populations before spreading to humans
CLAIM
“[G]enetic evidence within the Spike gene of SARS-Cov-2 genome […] does exist and suggest that the SARS-CoV-2 genome should be a product of genetic manipulation”; “The characteristics and pathogenic effects of SARS-CoV-2 are unprecedented”
SOURCE: Li-Meng Yan, Zenodo
Published: 22 Sep 2020
VERDICT
Human DNA does not produce a positive result on the RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2
CLAIM
“WHO coronavirus PCR test primer sequence is found in all human DNA”; “this means that the WHO test kits should find a positive result in all humans”
SOURCE: Anonymous, Piece of Mindful
Published: 31 Aug 2020
VERDICT
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
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
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
Still no evidence that hydroxychloroquine can cure or prevent COVID-19
CLAIM
“You don’t need masks, there is a cure [for COVID-19] ... It is called hydroxychloroquine, zinc, and Zithromax”
SOURCE: America’s Frontline Doctors , Breitbart
Published: 31 Jul 2020
VERDICT
Sexual transmission of SARS-CoV-2 currently unconfirmed as studies produce conflicting evidence of its presence in the reproductive system
CLAIM
“Coronavirus may be sexually transmitted and cause male infertility”
SOURCE: Paula Froelich, New York Post
Published: 27 Jul 2020
VERDICT
A trypsin-based oral spray reportedly deactivates SARS-CoV-2 in a liquid suspension but has not yet been tested in the mouth
CLAIM
New oral spray “deactivates 98% of the coronavirus” in the mouth
SOURCE: Hashem Al-Ghaili, Facebook
Published: 27 Jul 2020
VERDICT
INSIGHTS
Computing Forever interview with Dolores Cahill contains numerous inaccuracies about COVID-19 and vaccines
— 22 May 2020
This video, first published on 11 May 2020, features an interview between Dave Cullen, also known as Computing Forever on YouTube, and Dolores Cahill, a professor at University Col...