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.
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.
Full Fact fights bad information
Bad information ruins lives. It promotes hate, damages people’s health, and hurts democracy. You deserve better.
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.
Research suggesting increased Covid-19 risk for dog-owners may be barking up the wrong tree
The research claims dog walkers have a higher risk of catching Covid-19 but it has a number of methodological flaws.
This video makes a number of inaccurate claims about the Covid-19 pandemic
We have seen similar claims before about Pirbright, Serco, and the Test and Trace system.
Study doesn’t show that children are ‘silent super-spreaders’ of coronavirus
A study into the quantity of Covid-19 carried by some children does not prove they are ‘silent super-spreaders’.
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.
Matt Hancock got the evidence about long Covid wrong
Younger people and those with milder illness seem less likely to be affected, according to data from the Covid Symptom Study app
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.
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.
Danish study on mask efficacy only tells us half the story
A Spectator article suggests a new study which found mask-wearing didn’t lower Covid-19 infection rates is proof masks don’t work. But the study didn’t look at whether masks help others.
PTFE in masks does not pose a health risk, unless you get it very hot
Symptoms are similar to those described in the post, but this is rare and unlikely to be caused by normal mask-wearing.
This post telling healthy people to stop getting tested is full of inaccuracies
The post cites inaccurate claims about how testing and virus levels are measured.
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.
GPs and other frontline medical workers will be among the first to receive a Covid-19 vaccine
The government has published plans on who will be vaccinated first.
This picture of a vaccine vial from March 2020 is real
The Oxford vaccine has been in development since January 2020.
Ticketmaster won’t demand proof of a Covid-19 vaccine for concert entry
The company said decisions about entry requirements for events will be up to individual organisers
Lockdown
The UK’s lockdown remains in place and official guidance tells you the rules. Be wary of shocking images online alleging certain groups are flouting the rules.
Contact tracing has not stopped in schools
Single Covid-19 cases in educational settings are being traced centrally, instead of by local teams
What do lockdown restrictions mean for relationships around the UK?
Readers have asked Full Fact to explain how lockdown rules impact their relationships.
Boris Johnson makes an error about quarantine payments
It is £500 for the whole period of self-isolation, not £500 per week.
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.
The Daily Mail’s chart of Covid-19 death figures doesn’t use the real numbers
The chart of weekly deaths claimed to show that deaths were barely higher than previous years, but the figures are wrong.
The number of deaths from flu and pneumonia is about what you would expect this year
Although there are fewer of these deaths than usual, the fall is neither unexpected, nor extreme
It’s too early to say how many suicides have happened during the pandemic
A post on social media claims without evidence that suicide deaths have been higher than coronavirus deaths in the last two months.
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.
GPs and other frontline medical workers will be among the first to receive a Covid-19 vaccine
The government has published plans on who will be vaccinated first.
This picture of a vaccine vial from March 2020 is real
The Oxford vaccine has been in development since January 2020.
The government plans to monitor potential adverse reactions to a Covid-19 vaccine, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be safe
The government needs a system for logging any medical problems that people encounter at the same time as the vaccine.
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.
What does the new lockdown mean for childcare in England?
Our readers have asked us how the new lockdown rules affect childcare.
Fact-checking claims on coronavirus transmission in schools
Our readers have asked us to look into claims made by the NEU and Skwawkbox about Covid-19 transmission in schools.
Some Covid-positive students are being recorded at their home addresses
The government confirms students who do not register with a new GP at university are recorded as testing positive at their home address.
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.
GPs and other frontline medical workers will be among the first to receive a Covid-19 vaccine
The government has published plans on who will be vaccinated first.
Danish study on mask efficacy only tells us half the story
A Spectator article suggests a new study which found mask-wearing didn’t lower Covid-19 infection rates is proof masks don’t work. But the study didn’t look at whether masks help others.
Research suggesting increased Covid-19 risk for dog-owners may be barking up the wrong tree
The research claims dog walkers have a higher risk of catching Covid-19 but it has a number of methodological flaws.
Thank you
We are grateful to all our donors for supporting us to tackle dangerously false claims during this global crisis.