Claim reviews
COVID-19 related deaths are indeed caused by COVID-19 and not by contributing health conditions
CLAIM
“coronavirus itself is responsible for just 6% of all deaths listed as coronavirus-related”, the others are “due to pre-existing comorbidities”
SOURCE: OANN editors, One America News Network
Published: 09 Apr 2021
VERDICT
There is currently no cure for AIDS; reports to the contrary are incorrect
CLAIM
AIDS was cured in more than a dozen patients
SOURCE: Alfredo Bowman, Facebook
Published: 09 Apr 2021
VERDICT
Deserts cool the planet by reflecting solar radiation to space; vegetated areas have an overall warming effect, so planting trees in deserts doesn’t necessarily cool the planet
CLAIM
"Deserts are heat producers, reflecting around 60% to 70% of the solar energy that falls on them straight back into the atmosphere."; "If we want to do something about global warming, we have to do something about deserts."
SOURCE: Ties Van der Hoeven, Steve Rose, The Guardian
Published: 09 Apr 2021
VERDICT
The energy costs of manufacturing wind turbines are recouped in one to six months; turbines are financially profitable over their lifetimes
CLAIM
Wind turbines in the US are made of toxic materials that pollute the environment, are mostly built in Germany, and will not pay off their manufacturing costs within their lifetimes.
SOURCE: Internet User, Facebook
Published: 08 Apr 2021
VERDICT
The mRNA COVID-19 vaccines aren’t operating systems, and won’t transform the human body into a virus-making factory
CLAIM
The mRNA vaccine is “an operating system that takes over the machinery of your cells” ; “...by the time you get your fourth shot your body will be making all four proteins that make up the COVID-19 virus.”
SOURCE: Abdul Alim Muhammad, Damon Jones, Instagram, Facebook
Published: 06 Apr 2021
VERDICT
Not all coronaviruses are seasonal, contrary to pathologist Ryan Cole’s claim; COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing illness
CLAIM
Coronaviruses are all seasonal and go away on their own, including those that cause SARS and MERS; ivermectin is effective for preventing and treating COVID-19; COVID-19 vaccines are “gene therapy”, don’t give immunity or prevent transmission
SOURCE: Ryan Cole, Instagram, YouTube, Bitchute
Published: 04 Apr 2021
VERDICT
COVID-19 vaccines received Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA after clinical trials demonstrated that they are safe and effective; COVID-19 vaccines aren’t experimental
CLAIM
“Not one [COVID-19] vaccine is FDA approved. [...] They are all experimental.”
SOURCE: Facebook Users, Facebook
Published: 31 Mar 2021
VERDICT
Heart attack victims shouldn’t use “cough CPR” on themselves, contrary to chain email dating back to 1999
CLAIM
Heart attack “victims can help themselves by coughing repeatedly and very vigorously”
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook
Published: 30 Mar 2021
VERDICT
Going vegan may lead to fewer pandemics, but it won’t eliminate them completely
CLAIM
“In a vegan world there would be no pandemics. 100% of pandemics are zoonotic in origin.”
SOURCE: Richard Melville Hall (aka Moby), Facebook
Published: 26 Mar 2021
VERDICT
Clinical trials showed that the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is safe; its side effects are mostly mild
CLAIM
80% of people taking the Moderna vaccine had significant side effects; children in Sudan got polio from the polio vaccine
SOURCE: Joe Rogan, The Joe Rogan Experience
Published: 26 Mar 2021
VERDICT