Claim reviews
Low solar activity has little effect on Earth’s climate, contrary to claim in The Sun
CLAIM
"The sun has gone into ‘lockdown’ which could cause freezing weather, earthquakes and famine, say scientists"
SOURCE: Chris Pollard, The Sun
Published: 20 May 2020
VERDICT
The first SARS-CoV-2 infections in humans occurred during fall 2019, but not enough evidence exists to confirm a global spread before early 2020
CLAIM
“Coronavirus quickly spread around the world as early as October 2019”
SOURCE: Hashem Al-Ghaili, Facebook
Published: 19 May 2020
VERDICT
No evidence that using a face mask helps coronavirus enter the brain, contrary to claim by Russell Blaylock
CLAIM
'New evidence shows wearing face mask can help coronavirus enter the brain and pose more health risk, warn expert'
SOURCE: Russell Blaylock, Anonymous, The Science Times, Technocracy
Published: 19 May 2020
VERDICT
The global polar bear population is threatened by loss of sea ice, contrary to PragerU’s video claim
CLAIM
The polar bear population has been growing. Polar bears are thriving even where sea ice is diminishing.
SOURCE: Anonymous, PragerU
Published: 18 May 2020
VERDICT
Contrary to claims in viral social media posts, the novel coronavirus was not man-made nor patented before outbreak
CLAIM
The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 was lab-created and patented; SARS-CoV-2 is not a new virus; COVID-19 pandemic was man-made and planned
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook, Twitter
Published: 15 May 2020
VERDICT
Vaccines do not cause mercury toxicity or autism, contrary to claim in London Real video
CLAIM
“Autism is nothing more than mercury toxicity“; vaccine ingredients are toxic
SOURCE: Rashid Buttar, London Real
Published: 15 May 2020
VERDICT
Wearing face masks does not cause hypercapnia or affect the immune system
CLAIM
Wearing face masks can cause carbon dioxide toxicity; can weaken immune system
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook
Published: 13 May 2020
VERDICT
Current evidence suggests that COVID-19 may have a higher fatality rate than the flu, but a definitive conclusion requires more studies
CLAIM
Antibody tests support what’s been obvious: Covid-19 is much more lethal than the flu
SOURCE: Joel Achenbach, Washington Post
Published: 12 May 2020
VERDICT
Blog posts inaccurately claim that a 2005 NIH study demonstrated the effectiveness of chloroquine treatment against coronavirus infection such as COVID-19
CLAIM
the NIH researched chloroquine and concluded that it was effective at stopping the SARS coronavirus in its tracks
SOURCE: Bryan Fischer, OneNewsNow
Published: 08 May 2020
VERDICT
Bakersfield physicians underestimate COVID-19 mortality using flawed statistics; wrongly claim sheltering in place causes weak immune system
CLAIM
You have a 0.03[%] chance of dying from [COVID-19] in the state of California. [...] it’s similar to the flu.
SOURCE: Daniel Erickson, Artin Massihi, Youtube, Facebook
Published: 04 May 2020
VERDICT