Get the facts on the new coronavirus
Our fact checkers are fighting to protect people from bad information about Covid-19.
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How you can fact check claims about the new coronavirus
There’s a lot of misinformation about Covid-19, so Full Fact is sharing its top tips on how to check if a claim is true.
Read more…How you can fact check claims about the new coronavirus
There’s a lot of misinformation about Covid-19, so Full Fact is sharing its top tips on how to check if a claim is true.
No evidence Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine affects women’s fertility
The vaccine causes an immune response to a spike protein, but this almost certainly won’t make the body attack the placenta.
RNA Covid-19 vaccines will not change your DNA
Several candidate vaccines use this technology.
The Covid-19 recovery rate is not 99.9%
Posts on social media have overestimated the Covid recovery rate.
Full Fact fights bad information
Bad information ruins lives. It promotes hate, damages people’s health, and hurts democracy. You deserve better.
Vaccines
Vaccine misinformation is dangerous and threatens to prolong the pandemic. Stay informed with our latest fact checks.
Macron didn’t say he would no longer sacrifice his life for people who refuse Covid-19 vaccines
A speech criticising people who do not get vaccinated has been widely misattributed to French President Emmanuel Macron.
Comparisons between deaths reported after swine flu and Covid-19 vaccines are misleading
Deaths reported after a Covid-19 vaccine aren’t necessarily caused by the vaccine itself.
Israel’s travel policy doesn’t view vaccinated passengers as higher risk
Suggestions that Israel postponing the lifting of travel restrictions on vaccinated tourists indicates they are high risk ignores the fact that unvaccinated travellers are restricted too.
Causes
There is more than one “coronavirus” and they’ve existed for years. There’s no evidence anybody manufactured it deliberately, and it has nothing to do with 5G.
5G tower with ‘Delta’ power system is not related to Covid-19
Photos of a 5G tower supported by ‘Delta’ power system has nothing to do with Covid-19.
No evidence birds found dead on ship were killed by 5G
Misleading Facebook post claims that hundreds of dead birds discovered on the deck of a ship were killed by 5G.
Royal attendance at Euros does not prove there’s no pandemic
A Facebook post wrongly suggests the presence of the Royal Family at the England vs Germany Euros 2020 match proves there’s no pandemic.
Symptoms
The key symptoms are usually a high temperature and a new, continuous cough. Other symptoms like a runny nose don’t rule it out.
Allison Pearson tweets misleading stats about Covid hospital patients
Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson’s calculation of Covid hospitalisation rate is flawed in multiple ways.
No evidence Covid-19 vaccines are “overwhelming” NHS services
A website article misleadingly claims the Covid-19 vaccine drive has “overwhelmed” the NHS.
Critical report on BBC Newsround story is misleading
A report has criticised aspects of BBC childrens’ show Newsround’s coverage on Covid-19 vaccines but misleads in the process.
Prevention
There’s no evidence that water or high temperatures will prevent infection, though some are good for your health in general. Washing your hands with soap is best.
Tanks in Paris were almost certainly there for Bastille Day
Social media posts have misleadingly suggested tanks were deployed in Paris in response to protests.
Allison Pearson tweets misleading stats about Covid hospital patients
Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson’s calculation of Covid hospitalisation rate is flawed in multiple ways.
Acidic foods don’t test positive for Covid
Posts on Facebook wrongly claim that high acid foods appear to test positive for Covid-19 on lateral flow devices
Treatment
There’s currently no proven cure for the virus and you should be wary of methods professing to cure it like hot drinks or gargling salt water.
Allison Pearson tweets misleading stats about Covid hospital patients
Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson’s calculation of Covid hospitalisation rate is flawed in multiple ways.
Acidic foods don’t test positive for Covid
Posts on Facebook wrongly claim that high acid foods appear to test positive for Covid-19 on lateral flow devices
Covid-19 and flu comparisons reappraised
The health secretary has been criticised for saying we have to live with Covid as we do with flu. But how do the two compare, now most adults are vaccinated?
Statistics
Use sources like NHS England and the ONS for figures on deaths and testing, but be aware they’re not always up-to-date and may not cover all cases so far.
Israel’s travel policy doesn’t view vaccinated passengers as higher risk
Suggestions that Israel postponing the lifting of travel restrictions on vaccinated tourists indicates they are high risk ignores the fact that unvaccinated travellers are restricted too.
Daily cancer deaths not higher than those from Covid during last 40 days
Communications consultant James Melville compares Covid-19 and cancer deaths but his figures aren’t correct.
Robert Peston overstated the importance of reinfections
It is true that people testing positive for Covid-19 more than once are not counted in the daily case figures—but it would only make a small difference to the total if they were.
Viral posts on social media
If you’re not sure, don’t share. Many posts falsely claim to be from the government or NHS, and you can reverse-search photos online to check they’re accurate.
Macron didn’t say he would no longer sacrifice his life for people who refuse Covid-19 vaccines
A speech criticising people who do not get vaccinated has been widely misattributed to French President Emmanuel Macron.
Comparisons between deaths reported after swine flu and Covid-19 vaccines are misleading
Deaths reported after a Covid-19 vaccine aren’t necessarily caused by the vaccine itself.
Israel’s travel policy doesn’t view vaccinated passengers as higher risk
Suggestions that Israel postponing the lifting of travel restrictions on vaccinated tourists indicates they are high risk ignores the fact that unvaccinated travellers are restricted too.
Ask Full Fact
We've asked readers to send in their questions about the new coronavirus, to help sort the good information from the bad. Check out our answers here.
No evidence Covid-19 vaccines are “overwhelming” NHS services
A website article misleadingly claims the Covid-19 vaccine drive has “overwhelmed” the NHS.
Viral instagram video falsely claims Covid-19 was planned
A video falsely claims Covid-19 has been planned and its vaccine kills.
Many more than 3,000 people have died of Covid-19
The true death toll is currently more than 100,000 in England and Wales.
All Covid-19 fact checks
It’s vital that everyone receives clear, factual information about Covid-19. We are working to correct misinformation about the virus.
Macron didn’t say he would no longer sacrifice his life for people who refuse Covid-19 vaccines
A speech criticising people who do not get vaccinated has been widely misattributed to French President Emmanuel Macron.
Comparisons between deaths reported after swine flu and Covid-19 vaccines are misleading
Deaths reported after a Covid-19 vaccine aren’t necessarily caused by the vaccine itself.
Israel’s travel policy doesn’t view vaccinated passengers as higher risk
Suggestions that Israel postponing the lifting of travel restrictions on vaccinated tourists indicates they are high risk ignores the fact that unvaccinated travellers are restricted too.
Thank you
We are grateful to all our donors for supporting us to tackle dangerously false claims during this global crisis.