Health
mRNA vaccines are being developed for Covid-19, but they do not change your DNA
mRNA works by instructing cells, not altering DNA. Read
Fact check
Social media
Fact checks of content undertaken as part of Full Fact’s work on the Third Party Fact Checking Programme with Facebook
Can children be detained without their parents’ consent if the authorities think they have coronavirus?
The government has said a parent, carer or legal guardian must be present for a Covid-19 screening to take place on a child under the Coronavirus Act, but the law itself doesn’t say this. Read
Fact check
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. Read
Fact check
Health
The RSPCA has said that they are worried people will abandon pets because the economic effects of Covid-19
The company said in a press release that they are worried the current economic climate would lead to more abandoned pets. Read
Fact check
Health
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. Read
Fact check
These figures for the size of House Of Commons, House of Lords, and the EU parliament are all correct
However, the European Union does have lawmakers that aren’t elected by the public. Read
Fact check
Video of police officer egged by children is a prank
Viral videos on social media seemingly showing a police officer lying on the ground while children pelt him with eggs are not what they seem. Read
Fact check
Universal Credit monthly allowance is more than House of Lords daily allowance – for now
Temporary increases to Universal Credit introduced because of the coronavirus pandemic mean the monthly allowance is now higher than the daily allowance for peers in the House of Lords. Read
Fact check
A baseless paper that linked skin cells, 5G and coronavirus has been retracted
The paper made claims about how 5G waves could be absorbed by skin cells and produce coronavirus but provided no credible evidence. Read
Fact check
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. Read
Fact check
Evidence you can rely on
Fact checking claims made by politicians, public figures and viral online content can give you the full picture backed by the evidence.
Subscribe to weekly email newsletters from Full Fact for updates on politics, immigration, health and more. Our fact checks are free to read but not to produce, so you will also get occasional emails about fundraising and other ways you can help. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information about how we use your data see our Privacy Policy.