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.
Claims that Covid vaccine spike proteins are harmful are unevidenced
A Conservative Woman article repeats claims from a Canadian vaccine scientist that appear to be based on flawed assumptions.
Christian Eriksen did not have Covid-19 vaccine before collapse, says Inter Milan CEO
Users on social media are sharing false claims that the Danish footballer had been vaccinated days before becoming ill on the pitch.
Possible link between Pfizer second dose and mild heart inflammation in young men
Most men studied in Israel had to go into hospital for a few days but the majority of cases were quite mild.
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.
David Icke makes false claim that vaccines are ‘gene therapy’
Conspiracy theorist David Icke has made unsubstantiated claims about Covid-19 transmission , climate change and gene therapy.
Piers Corbyn makes misleading claims about vaccine deaths
Piers Corbyn has falsely claimed vaccines caused over a thousand deaths and nearly a million adverse reactions.
Hecklers at Twickenham Stadium vaccine drive spout false claims
A video filmed by protestors at Twickenham Stadium repeats Covid-19 vaccine claims we’ve debunked several times before.
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.
David Icke makes false claim that vaccines are ‘gene therapy’
Conspiracy theorist David Icke has made unsubstantiated claims about Covid-19 transmission , climate change and gene therapy.
Hecklers at Twickenham Stadium vaccine drive spout false claims
A video filmed by protestors at Twickenham Stadium repeats Covid-19 vaccine claims we’ve debunked several times before.
Having a Covid-19 vaccine doesn’t make you more vulnerable to the disease
A Facebook post that claims people who are vaccinated may become particularly ill from ‘vaccine enhancement syndrome’ is completely wrong.
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.
David Icke makes false claim that vaccines are ‘gene therapy’
Conspiracy theorist David Icke has made unsubstantiated claims about Covid-19 transmission , climate change and gene therapy.
Piers Corbyn makes misleading claims about vaccine deaths
Piers Corbyn has falsely claimed vaccines caused over a thousand deaths and nearly a million adverse reactions.
Hecklers at Twickenham Stadium vaccine drive spout false claims
A video filmed by protestors at Twickenham Stadium repeats Covid-19 vaccine claims we’ve debunked several times before.
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.
David Icke makes false claim that vaccines are ‘gene therapy’
Conspiracy theorist David Icke has made unsubstantiated claims about Covid-19 transmission , climate change and gene therapy.
Piers Corbyn makes misleading claims about vaccine deaths
Piers Corbyn has falsely claimed vaccines caused over a thousand deaths and nearly a million adverse reactions.
Hecklers at Twickenham Stadium vaccine drive spout false claims
A video filmed by protestors at Twickenham Stadium repeats Covid-19 vaccine claims we’ve debunked several times before.
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.
Piers Corbyn makes misleading claims about vaccine deaths
Piers Corbyn has falsely claimed vaccines caused over a thousand deaths and nearly a million adverse reactions.
The UK does not have the worst death toll in Europe, when you account for population
It has recorded the 14th highest number of Covid-19 deaths per million people.
Letter to MHRA is filled with false Covid-19 claims
These include falsehoods that all people who die after a positive Covid test are registered as having died of Covid and that the Covid vaccines are experimental.
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.
Fake memo circulating claiming to be from Imperial College
The memo allegedly sets out plans for a permanent lockdown of the UK but has no credible source and makes false claims.
Covid-19 victims cannot be cremated against their wishes
A post on Facebook also wrongly claims that asymptomatic transmission is a hoax, PCR tests are useless and Covid-19 death statistics have been manipulated.
97% of PCR positives aren’t false
A clip of a woman calling a Bristol hospital claiming most of its “positive” cases are false has been shared on social media.
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.
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.
Millions—not thousands—caught Covid last year
Doctors only report a small fraction of infections through the NOIDs system.
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.
Fake memo circulating claiming to be from Imperial College
The memo allegedly sets out plans for a permanent lockdown of the UK but has no credible source and makes false claims.
Covid-19 victims cannot be cremated against their wishes
A post on Facebook also wrongly claims that asymptomatic transmission is a hoax, PCR tests are useless and Covid-19 death statistics have been manipulated.
97% of PCR positives aren’t false
A clip of a woman calling a Bristol hospital claiming most of its “positive” cases are false has been shared on social media.
Thank you
We are grateful to all our donors for supporting us to tackle dangerously false claims during this global crisis.