Ketchup did not ‘test positive’ for Covid-19
You’re more likely to get a false negative than a false positive from a lateral flow test. Read
Fact check
Covid-19 fact checks
This page brings together Full Fact’s fact checks on Covid-19, covering common claims, vaccine safety and efficacy, symptoms, treatments, government policies, and misinformation. We review evidence, correct errors, and monitor evolving science to help you make informed decisions.
Health
What are lateral flow tests, and why do the numbers of false positives keep changing?
Lateral flow tests have been used for a little while now. Here we talk about how accurate they are, and why so many different numbers on false positives are being discussed. Read
Analysis
There were nowhere near one million people at the anti-lockdown march
The march passed under Waterloo Bridge in 50 minutes. It’s unfeasible that one million people could pass through that space in 50 minutes. Read
Fact check
Health
BBC wrong to say puppies died of Covid-19
The BBC’s live blog confused Covid-19 with canine coronavirus Read
Fact check
Health
The Express muddles up the dangers of Covid-19 in pregnancy
The study it describes looked at whether Covid raises the risks associated with pregnancy—not whether pregnancy raises the risks of Covid. Read
Fact check
Photo of 2018 anti-Brexit march mislabelled as showing 2021 anti-lockdown march
An aerial image is claimed to be from the 24 April anti-lockdown march in London. It was actually from a 2018 march against Brexit. Read
Fact check
Covid-19 child vaccine trial paused over clot concerns, not cot death
The study was giving the Covid-19 vaccine to children aged between six and 17, not infants. Read
Fact check
Mike Yeadon wrong again on lockdowns and face masks
Claims that lockdowns and face masks don’t work are false. Read
Fact check
Health
There’s more to the claim only 32 vaccinated people were hospitalised with Covid-19
A report in the Telegraph claimed there was only one vaccinated case per 2,300 patients. That’s highly misleading. Read
Fact check
Error-strewn paper claims face masks are ineffective and harmful
The ‘peer-reviewed paper from Stanford’ is not from Stanford and may not have been conventionally peer-reviewed. Read
Fact check
Evidence you can rely on
Fact checking claims made by politicians, public figures and viral online content can give you the full picture backed by the evidence.
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