Accessibility links

Breaking News

Coronavirus: The Infodemic - June 30


Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the NIH's National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testifies during a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on the Trump administration's response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, on June 23, 2020. Kevin Dietsch/Pool via REUTERS
Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the NIH's National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testifies during a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on the Trump administration's response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, on June 23, 2020. Kevin Dietsch/Pool via REUTERS

Fake news about the coronavirus can do real harm. Polygraph.info is spotlighting fact-checks from other reliable sources here​.

Daily Debunk

Claim: The novel coronavirus was intentionally engineered by the U.S. government in research overseen by Dr. Anthony Fauci.

Verdict: False

Read the full story at: USA Today

Social Media Disinfo

Flourish
Flourish

Claim: COVID-19 became a leading cause of death globally by the end of May 2020.

Verdict: Mostly Accurate

Read the full story at: Health Feedback

Factual Reads on Coronavirus

Hospitals Experiment with COVID-19 Treatments, Balancing Hope and Evidence
With little data on what works and what doesn’t, doctors trade tips and argue about risks
-- Scientific American, June 29

Coronavirus trend: The pandemic is far from over
While the first countries are easing their lockdowns, others report more and more new cases every day. Data for the global picture shows: The pandemic is far from over. DW has the latest statistics.
-- Deutsche Welle, June 26

How the Virus Won
Invisible outbreaks sprang up everywhere. The United States ignored the warning signs. We analyzed travel patterns, hidden infections and genetic data to show how the epidemic spun out of control.
-- New York Times, June 25

Mounting clues suggest the coronavirus might trigger diabetes
Evidence from tissue studies and some people with COVID-19 shows that the virus damages insulin-producing cells.
-- Nature, June 24

Swiss giant Novartis halts COVID-19 hydroxychloroquine study
Swiss pharmaceuticals giant Novartis has decided to halt a clinical trial of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19, citing problems in recruiting enough patients for the study of the controversial drug.
-- Medical Express, June 20

How likely are kids to get Covid-19? Scientists see a ‘huge puzzle’ without easy answers
There is some evidence that kids are less likely to catch the virus and less likely to spread it, but it’s not clear exactly how strong that evidence is.
-- Stat, June 18​

Watch: Antibodies, immunity, and what they mean for Covid-19, explained
The immune system is no wimp. When pathogens cause illness, it kicks into high gear. Cells work together to tag, kill and gobble up invaders as they fight the infection.
-- Stat, May 5

The race for coronavirus vaccines: a graphical guide
Eight ways in which scientists hope to provide immunity to SARS-CoV-2.
-- Nature, April 28

The Best Coronavirus Myth-Busting Collections

COVID19 Infodemics Observatory

Agence France Presse

Snopes

BuzzFeed

Factcheck.org

Associated Press

Washington Post

TruthOrFiction

Mapping the COVID-19

Reliable Coronavirus Information

World Health Organization

U.S. Centers for Disease Control

Federation of American Scientists

Emergency Physicians

Johns Hopkins University & Medicine​

Pan American Health Organization

Google COVID‑19 Information & Resources

XS
SM
MD
LG