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
There is no proof you’re more likely to get Covid-19 if you’re tall
It was widely reported that a survey showed men over six foot tall are more likely to be infected with coronavirus. However, the research does not prove this.
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.
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
The RSPCA has said that they are worried people will abandon pets because the economic effects of Covid-19
The charity said in a press release that they are worried the current economic climate would lead to more abandoned pets.
Ordinary face masks are not harmful
There are rare instances involving tight-fitting N95 respirators.
Washing your glasses with soap can help prevent fogging when wearing a mask
The soap disrupts the surface tension which causes the fogging.
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 surgical 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
What are the quarantine rules if you return to the UK from abroad?
Our readers have asked us to explain the guidance around self-isolating if you have visited another country.
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.
Statistics
You were more likely to catch Covid-19 in Spain than the UK in late July.
A viral Facebook post claims Spain had a much lower Covid-19 death toll than the UK at the end of July. That’s correct but isn’t the best way to compare the risk of getting Covid-19 in each country.
How to check coronavirus cases near you
The data is easy to find, but needs to be read carefully
We do not test 330,000 people a day for Covid-19
This was a claim from the schools minister. The true figure, under the Test and Trace programme for England, is more like 52,000
Viral posts on social media
You were more likely to catch Covid-19 in Spain than the UK in late July.
A viral Facebook post claims Spain had a much lower Covid-19 death toll than the UK at the end of July. That’s correct but isn’t the best way to compare the risk of getting Covid-19 in each country.
The RSPCA has said that they are worried people will abandon pets because the economic effects of Covid-19
The charity said in a press release that they are worried the current economic climate would lead to more abandoned pets.
Leicester residents are not being forcibly tested for coronavirus
Leicester City Council said that no one is being forced by them to take Covid-19 tests.
Ask Full Fact
What are the quarantine rules if you return to the UK from abroad?
Our readers have asked us to explain the guidance around self-isolating if you have visited another country.
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.
All Covid-19 fact checks
There is no proof you’re more likely to get Covid-19 if you’re tall
It was widely reported that a survey showed men over six foot tall are more likely to be infected with coronavirus. However, the research does not prove this.
You were more likely to catch Covid-19 in Spain than the UK in late July.
A viral Facebook post claims Spain had a much lower Covid-19 death toll than the UK at the end of July. That’s correct but isn’t the best way to compare the risk of getting Covid-19 in each country.
The RSPCA has said that they are worried people will abandon pets because the economic effects of Covid-19
The charity said in a press release that they are worried the current economic climate would lead to more abandoned pets.
Thank you
We are grateful to all our donors for supporting us to tackle dangerously false claims during this global crisis.