Accessibility links

Breaking News

Coronavirus: The Infodemic - October 2


FILE PHOTO: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks during a daily briefing following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Manhattan in New York City, New York, U.S., July 13, 2020.
FILE PHOTO: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks during a daily briefing following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Manhattan in New York City, New York, U.S., July 13, 2020.

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

Daily Debunk

Claim: "[W]e never needed nursing home beds [for COVID-positive patients] because we always had hospital beds. So it just never happened in New York, where we needed to say to a nursing home, 'We need you to take this person even though they're COVID-positive'." New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, September 30.

Verdict: False

Read the full story at: CNN

Social Media Disinfo

Women wearing face masks walk in the city center, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Middleborough, Britain October 2, 2020
Women wearing face masks walk in the city center, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Middleborough, Britain October 2, 2020

Circulating on social media: Claim that increase in UK COVID-19 cases proves masks are ineffective.

Verdict: False

Read the full story at: Reuters

Factual Reads on Coronavirus

Trump joins Johnson, Bolsonaro in club of leaders diagnosed with Covid
Britain's Prince Charles and Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro are among the figures to have tested positive.
-- NBC News, October 2

Inside the Coronavirus
What scientists know about the inner workings of the pathogen that has infected the world
-- Scientific American, October 1

COVID research updates: Tests reveal silent reinfections in hospital workers
Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear.
-- Nature, September 28

A layperson’s guide to how — and when — a Covid-19 vaccine could be authorized
This story is based on interviews as well as on documents the drug makers have released detailing their clinical trial plans.
-- Stat, September 28

'Close to 100% accuracy': Helsinki airport uses sniffer dogs to detect Covid
Researchers running Helsinki pilot scheme say dogs can identify virus in seconds.
-- The Guardian, September 24

The Road Ahead: Charting the coronavirus pandemic over the next 12 months — and beyond
In this project, STAT describes 30 key moments, possible turning points that could steer the pandemic onto a different course or barometers for how the virus is reshaping our lives.
-- Stat, September 22

U.S. Public Now Divided Over Whether To Get COVID-19 Vaccine
Concerns about the safety and effectiveness of possible vaccine, pace of approval process.
--Pew Research Center, September 17

The COVID-19 Pandemic Is Changing Our Dreams
Anxiety about social distancing and infection is altering how much we dream and the nature of our dreams themselves.
-- Scientific American, September 15

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

XS
SM
MD
LG