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.
There is evidence vaccines reduce risk of Covid-19 illness
Being ill with Covid-19 and getting infected by the virus that causes it are not the same thing.
There are no human cells in the AstraZeneca vaccine, and it won’t give you a chimpanzee virus
A post on social media makes claims about viruses from chimpanzees and human foetal cells in AstraZeneca vaccine.
People giving Covid-19 vaccines won’t be tried as war criminals
A video claims the roll-out is part of an experiment where the subjects haven’t consented, which is wrong.
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.
The problem with coronavirus transmission in hospitals
Full Fact investigates what we know about Covid-19 transmission in hospitals, and what we don’t.
Covid-19 is an infectious disease, and a video claiming it isn’t is wrong
The woman in this video is wrong to blame radiation—and wrong about other things as well
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.
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.
A Bangladesh study doesn’t show that depression follows Covid-19
The Telegraph misreported a scientific study which found that many former Covid-19 sufferers had depression—but did not say whether the virus was to blame.
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.
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.
Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine will not change your DNA
This is a common myth about mRNA vaccines, which give instructions to cells, but do not change their DNA.
There is no evidence that people are dying from the Covid-19 vaccine
Some deaths and serious events have been recorded after vaccination, but none because of it so far
Are 3 in 10 people failing to isolate?
Keir Starmer’s claim about self-isolation comes with many caveats.
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.
The link between vitamin D and Covid-19 is complex
Some studies have shown an association between low vitamin D and coronavirus infections.
Penicillin allergies don’t rule out Pfizer vaccine
A post on social media claims that a penicillin allergy can cause a bad reaction to the Pfizer Covid vaccine.
There’s no proof steam inhalation cures Covid-19
An Italian study saying it could be effective only had 10 participants.
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.
Guardian report on public opinion about job losses needs context
A survey found 47% of the population think job performance is an important factor in recent job losses, not necessarily the main reason.
Mask wearing doesn’t cause bacterial pneumonia
Evidence shows mask wearing may reduce the risk of bacterial infection.
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.
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.
Tests can detect the Covid-19 virus
The false positive rate is not 100%, which would mean they gave a positive result, wrongly, every time.
Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine will not change your DNA
This is a common myth about mRNA vaccines, which give instructions to cells, but do not change their DNA.
Covid-19 is not a rebrand of flu
Although sometimes flu and Covid-19 have similar symptoms, they are different illnesses caused by different organisms.
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.
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.
Can we believe the lockdown sceptics?
Evidence does not support the theories of sceptics like Peter Hitchens, Ivor Cummins and Mike Yeadon
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.
Tests can detect the Covid-19 virus
The false positive rate is not 100%, which would mean they gave a positive result, wrongly, every time.
Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine will not change your DNA
This is a common myth about mRNA vaccines, which give instructions to cells, but do not change their DNA.
Covid-19 is not a rebrand of flu
Although sometimes flu and Covid-19 have similar symptoms, they are different illnesses caused by different organisms.
Thank you
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