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Coronavirus: The Infodemic - August 4


A commuter wears a mask while riding the subway as cases of the infectious coronavirus Delta variant continue to rise in New York City, New York, U.S., July 26, 2021.
A commuter wears a mask while riding the subway as cases of the infectious coronavirus Delta variant continue to rise in New York City, New York, U.S., July 26, 2021.

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

Daily Debunk

Claim: The “delta” in delta variant means “deep sleep.”

Verdict: False

Read the full story at: USA Today

Social Media Disinfo

Screenshot
Screenshot

Circulating on social media: Image purportedly showing a chart of planned variants of COVID-19 and when they will be allegedly “released” to the media.

Verdict: False

Read the full story at: Check Your Fact

Factual Reads on Coronavirus

Pfizer Raises Price of Covid-19 Vaccine by 25% in Europe: Report
Pfizer's covid-19 vaccine will be the highest revenue drug in history by the end of 2021.
-- Gizmodo, August 2

Berlin protesters decry coronavirus measures; 600 detained
Thousands turned out in Berlin on Sunday to protest the German government’s anti-coronavirus measures despite a ban on the gatherings, leading to clashes with police and the detention of some 600 protesters.
-- Associated Press, August 1

U.K.’s Delta Variant Wave Appears to Ebb, Offering Hope Covid-19 Is in Retreat
As caseloads drop, scientists watch to see if infections climb after restrictions lifted.
-- Wall Street Journal, July 30

‘The war has changed’: Internal CDC document urges new messaging, warns delta infections likely more severe
The internal presentation shows that the agency thinks it is struggling to communicate on vaccine efficacy amid increased breakthrough infections.
-- Washington Post, July 29

The Noble Lies of COVID-19
Do we want public health officials to report facts and uncertainties transparently? Or do we want them to shape information to influence the public to take specific actions?
-- Slate, July 28

Why it’s still so hard to find treatments for early COVID-19
Scientists are learning surprising lessons about why promising drugs fail in clinical trials.
--ScienceNews, July 27

Spaniards put faith in COVID-19 vaccines even as cases surge
[T]he emphasis on vaccines as the salvation could also have contributed to Spain’s young letting down their guards as curfews and face mask requirements were lifted, just as the delta variant arrived. The result is that, despite its smooth vaccine rollout, Spain is currently one of Europe’s hot spots for new infections.
-- Associated Press, July 25

Vaccinated people make up 75% of recent COVID-19 cases in Singapore, but few fall ill
While the data shows that vaccines are highly effective in preventing severe cases, it also underscores the risk that even those inoculated could be contagious, so that inoculation alone may not suffice to halt transmission.
-- Reuters, July 23

Covid-19 kept families and caregivers out of hospitals. Some doctors think that shouldn’t happen again
[P]atients and many physicians say the more restrictive ongoing limits, like only allowing one visitor, are no longer justified and may actually be harming patients’ mental health and leading to worse outcomes.
-- Stat, July 20

Covid-19 global updates: Protests hit Athens and Paris over new coronavirus restrictions, vaccine mandates
Protests flared in France and Greece on Wednesday as residents angry over coronavirus curbs and vaccine mandates in both countries marched against new, stricter regulations that they say discriminate against people unwilling to be inoculated.
-- Washington Post (via MSN), July 15

Flu jab protects against some of the severe effects of COVID-19, including ICU admissions, sepsis and strokes
The flu vaccine may provide vital protection against COVID-19, new research being presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID), held online this year, concludes.
-- Medicalxpress.com, July 12

The Best Coronavirus Myth-Busting Collections

HealthCheck

COVID19 Infodemics Observatory

Agence France Presse

Snopes

BuzzFeed

Factcheck.org

Associated Press

Washington Post

TruthOrFiction

Mapping COVID-19 Casualties

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

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