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Coronavirus: The Infodemic - June 2


People wearing protective face masks wait at a public transport stop as a pedestrian walks nearby amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in central Kiev, Ukraine June 2, 2020.
People wearing protective face masks wait at a public transport stop as a pedestrian walks nearby amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in central Kiev, Ukraine June 2, 2020.

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

Daily Debunk

Claim: Early research shows fabric could neutralize coronaviruses.

Verdict: True

Read the full story at: USA Today​

Social Media Disinfo

Screenshot
Screenshot

Circulating on social media: Claim that COVID-19 testing is a secret blood harvesting operation.

Verdict: False

Read the full story at: Reuters

Factual Reads on Coronavirus

China withheld data on coronavirus from WHO, recordings reveal
Complaints by officials at odds with body’s public praise of Beijing’s response to outbreak
-- Guardian, June 2​

The epic battle against coronavirus misinformation and conspiracy theories
Analysts are tracking false rumours about COVID-19 in hopes of curbing their spread.
-- Nature, May 27

Is the coronavirus mutating? Yes. But here’s why you don’t need to panic
Lab experiments would help determine whether mutations change how the virus infects cells
-- ScienceNews, May 26

New research rewrites history of when Covid-19 took off in the U.S. — and points to missed chances to stop it
The work adds to evidence that the United States missed opportunities to stop the SARS-CoV-2 virus from taking root in this country — and that those opportunities persisted for longer than has been recognized up until now.
-- Stat, May 26

Coronavirus: The human cost of virus misinformation
A BBC team tracking coronavirus misinformation has found links to assaults, arsons and deaths. And experts say the potential for indirect harm caused by rumors, conspiracy theories and bad health information could be much bigger.
-- BBC News, May 27​

How coronavirus stress may scramble our brains
Imaging studies show we should give ourselves a break
-- ScienceNews, May 24

9 ways Covid-19 may forever upend the U.S. health care industry
Already, the coronavirus has led to sweeping changes in who can receive care and how they access it.
-- Stat, May 19​

Coronavirus vaccine trials have their first results — but their promise is still unclear
Scientists urge caution over hints of success emerging from small human and animal studies.
-- Nature, May 19

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

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

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