Coronavirus: The Infodemic - August 4

August 04, 2020

A Palestinian worker wearing a protective face mask sanitizes a classroom in a United Nations-run school before a new academic year starts, amid concerns about the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Gaza City August 4, 2020.

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

Daily Debunk

"What Science Says About Children, COVID-19 and School Reopenings," FactCheck.org, July 24.

Social Media Disinfo

Circulating on social media: Photo claiming to show crowds protesting in Berlin against coronavirus restrictions.

Verdict: False

Read the full story at: Reuters

Factual Reads on Coronavirus

Everything you need to know about the UK's new 90-minute coronavirus test
Two new coronavirus tests that can return results in just over an hour are set to be released in the UK, the government has announced.
-- Euronews, August 3

What's Happening in the Brain with COVID-19?
It’s unclear if SARS-CoV-2 is acting directly on the brain, but we can still investigate if the brain is being damaged when people are sick with COVID-19.
-- NeuWrite San Diego, July 30

School closures in spring linked to drastic decrease in Covid-19 cases and deaths
[A] study published ... in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that closing all of a state’s schools was associated with a drastic decrease in both Covid-19 cases and deaths.
-- Stat, July 29

Covid-19 infections leave an impact on the heart, raising concerns about lasting damage
Two new studies from Germany paint a sobering picture of the toll that Covid-19 takes on the heart.
-- Stat, July 27

COVID-19 and heatwaves: a double whammy for Indian cities
The onset of the hot season presents individuals and local decision makers with new challenges on the optimal ways to stay safe from both heat stress and COVID-19.
-- The Lancet Planetary Health, July 27

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.
-- Deutsche Welle, July 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