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