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Coronavirus: The Infodemic - October 21


A volunteer receives an injection from a medical worker during the country's first human clinical trial for a potential vaccine against the novel coronavirus, at Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, South Africa, June 24, 2020. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko
A volunteer receives an injection from a medical worker during the country's first human clinical trial for a potential vaccine against the novel coronavirus, at Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, South Africa, June 24, 2020. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

Daily Debunk

Claim: On social media, posts that say world leaders are encouraging a second wave of coronavirus to push a global vaccination strategy.

Verdict: False

Read the full story at: Reuters Fact Check

Social Media Disinfo

Circulating on social media: "Facebook posts promote false conspiracy theory that coronavirus testing patent was submitted in 2015." -- AFP Fact Check

Verdict: False

Read the full story at: AFP Fact Check

Factual Reads on Coronavirus

The share of Americans interested in getting a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible is dropping
The decline is notably more pronounced among Black Americans than among white individuals, according to a new survey from STAT and The Harris Poll. -- STAT News, October 19

How to void coronavirus while voting
Epidemiologists offer tips for U.S. voters and poll workers to limit their chances of getting infected. -- Scientific American, October 14

The coronavirus test results that predict an outbreak's course
Viral levels in people infected with SARS-CoV-2 in a specific town or city could be used to assess whether the epidemic there has passed its peak.
-- Nature, October 19

Coronavirus can last 28 days on glass and currency, study finds
Findings from the study by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, appear to show that in a very controlled environment the virus remained infectious for longer than other studies have found.
-- Reuters, October 11

Eight Persistent COVID-19 Myths and Why People Believe Them
From a human-made virus to vaccine conspiracy theories, we rounded up the most insidious false claims about the pandemic
-- Scientific American, October 12

5 Things to Know About a COVID Vaccine: It Won’t Be a ‘Magic Wand’
President Donald Trump makes no secret he would like a COVID-19 vaccine to be available before the election. But it’s doubtful that will happen.
-- Kaiser Health News, October 5

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 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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