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Coronavirus: The Infodemic - July 6


FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to attendees as he hosts a 4th of July "2020 Salute to America" to celebrate the U.S. Independence Day holiday at the White House in Washington, U.S., July 4, 2020.
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to attendees as he hosts a 4th of July "2020 Salute to America" to celebrate the U.S. Independence Day holiday at the White House in Washington, U.S., July 4, 2020.

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

Daily Debunk

Claim: “Now we have tested over 40 million people. But by so doing, we show cases, 99% of which are totally harmless.” President Donald Trump, July 4

Verdict: False

Read the full story at: Associated Press

Social Media Disinfo

Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, wears a Washington Nationals face mask as he arrives during a Senate committee hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S. June 30, 2020.
Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, wears a Washington Nationals face mask as he arrives during a Senate committee hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S. June 30, 2020.

Claim: “The United States' top infectious diseases expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said people in the U.S. do not need to wear masks to protect against COVID-19.

Verdict: Outdated

Read the full story at: Snopes

Factual Reads on Coronavirus

239 Experts With One Big Claim: The Coronavirus Is Airborne
The W.H.O. has resisted mounting evidence that viral particles floating indoors are infectious, some scientists say. The agency maintains the research is still inconclusive.
-- New York Times, July 4

Coronavirus’ spread in GOP territory, explained in 6 charts
An Associated Press analysis of coronavirus case data shows the virus has moved — and is spreading quickly — into Republican areas, a new path with broad potential political ramifications.
-- Associated Press, July 1

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

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

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