Get the facts on the new coronavirus
Our fact checkers are fighting to protect people from bad information about Covid-19.
How you can fact check claims about the new coronavirus
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.
What we know, and what we don’t, about the true coronavirus death toll
And why it’s too soon to compare the UK’s with other countries
Has the government really hit 100,000 tests a day, and what happens next?
Full Fact has looked into the reality behind the government’s testing target.
Causes
Leicester going back into lockdown has nothing to do with 5G
Leicester is one of many cities which has 5G coverage.
Covid-19 study that links deaths to low vitamin D levels is flawed
This study has been removed from the online research library it was published on.
What do we know about Covid-19 inequalities among people from minority ethnic groups?
There are stark inequalities in Covid-19 outcomes in the UK.
Symptoms
What did the lockdown rules say when Dominic Cummings travelled to Durham?
Some of his choices were not specifically permitted, and it appears that he did not fully explore the alternatives, as was required.
Can children transmit the new coronavirus to other people?
The evidence to date suggests that it is uncommon for children to transmit the new coronavirus. Widespread antibody testing is required to fully understand this issue.
Testing positive for Covid-19 doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get ill
A headline in the Times conflated testing positive with Covid-19 to being “ill” with the disease.
Prevention
Washing your glasses with soap can help prevent fogging when wearing a mask
The soap disrupts the surface tension which causes the fogging.
You do not have to legally lower your mask for lip-readers
Lowering your mask to assist those who lip-read has been permitted, but is not legally required.
Mask graphic contains a number of inaccuracies
A post has claimed that Covid-19 can’t be spread person to person. This is the main way the disease spreads.
Treatment
The BBC did not say that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is planning to put microchips in Covid-19 vaccines
The article in question is a speculative article on the future of travel and does not mention microchips.
The evidence shows masks do offer protection from Covid-19
A viral video claims surgical masks are “no good” as they don’t offer complete protection to the wearer. Evidence shows masks still have benefits.
There is no indication that a Covid-19 vaccine will be mandatory or that those who don’t get it will have their movements restricted
We can’t find any evidence for these claims.
Lockdown
Facebook post on lockdown rule changes are right for certain parts of England
As of 31 July, the lockdown rules changed for people in Greater Manchester and parts of Lancashire and West Yorkshire.
It’s not true that employees who have to quarantine cannot be ‘penalised’
Dominic Raab wrongly claimed people cannot be ‘penalised’ by employers if they have to quarantine after being abroad.
When did lockdown begin in the UK?
Matt Hancock claimed lockdown began a week before Boris Johnson instructed the country to ‘stay at home’.
Statistics
Changes to government Covid-19 death data won’t make a big difference to the overall death count
The government has demanded an urgent review into the way Public Health England calculates the daily death figures from coronavirus.
The government was wrong on its own data on Covid-19 tests for care homes
Both Boris Johnson and the Department for Health and Social Care claimed in May that 125,000 staff in care settings and 118,000 care home residents had been tested for Covid-19. New data shows this is incorrect.
It’s not true that 58% of Covid-19 deaths in Scotland were in care homes
A widely shared Facebook post wrongly claims that 58% of Scotland’s coronavirus deaths took place in care homes.
Viral posts on social media
Facebook post on lockdown rule changes are right for certain parts of England
As of 31 July, the lockdown rules changed for people in Greater Manchester and parts of Lancashire and West Yorkshire.
The BBC did not say that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is planning to put microchips in Covid-19 vaccines
The article in question is a speculative article on the future of travel and does not mention microchips.
Washing your glasses with soap can help prevent fogging when wearing a mask
The soap disrupts the surface tension which causes the fogging.
Ask Full Fact
Changes to government Covid-19 death data won’t make a big difference to the overall death count
The government has demanded an urgent review into the way Public Health England calculates the daily death figures from coronavirus.
What is the guidance on face coverings and how has it changed?
As face coverings are soon to become mandatory in shops in England, Full Fact takes a look at the guidance and how it has changed.
Increase in doctors and nurses does not include Covid-19 returners
Rises in the number of full-time doctors and nurses in the NHS do not include staff members who returned to help during the coronavirus pandemic.
All Covid-19 fact checks
Facebook post on lockdown rule changes are right for certain parts of England
As of 31 July, the lockdown rules changed for people in Greater Manchester and parts of Lancashire and West Yorkshire.
Viral Facebook post incorrectly claims that a list of PPE contracts are all unfulfilled
PPE procurement is under scrutiny but claims that all these contracts were unfulfilled is not evidenced.
The BBC did not say that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is planning to put microchips in Covid-19 vaccines
The article in question is a speculative article on the future of travel and does not mention microchips.
Thank you
We are grateful to all our donors for supporting us to tackle dangerously false claims during this global crisis.