The study, which was not peer-reviewed, found that four treatments tested — including remdesivir and hydroxychloroquine — had “ little or no effect" on whether or not patients died within about a month or whether hospitalized patients recovered.
Publication: covid-19
Snopes→ Fred Dean, 68, Fearsome Pass Rusher of 49ers’ Dynasty, Dies
Dean, the Hall of Fame pass rusher for the San Francisco 49ers, was hospitalized last week with the coronavirus and was on a ventilator and in intensive care, according to former teammate Dwight Hicks.
Snopes→ Harris Suspends Travel After Staffer Tests COVID-19 Positive
Harris was scheduled to travel to North Carolina for events encouraging voters to cast early ballots.
Snopes→ Coronavirus Vaccine: What We Know So Far
A survey of how a COVID-19 vaccine will work, the progress a leading vaccine is making, and what challenges there will be to manufacturing and rolling a vaccine out when ready.
Snopes→ Study: Health Systems, Govt Responses Linked to Virus Tolls
The study published in Nature Medicine modeled "excess mortality" in 19 European countries, New Zealand, and Australia to compare the effectiveness of counter-measures.
Health Feedback→ Mask use does not lead to a higher risk of COVID-19 as viral social media posts claim
REVIEW Misinformation aimed at discouraging mask use has been prolific during the COVID-19 pandemic, as detailed in several reviews by Health Feedback. Another claim that masks do not work or that they make people more likely to have COVID-19 began
Snopes→ Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Trial Paused over Unexplained Illness
Temporary stoppages of large medical studies are relatively common.
Snopes→ Was Trump’s Regeneron ‘Cure’ Developed Using Stem Cells and Fetal Tissues?
U.S. President Donald Trump touted the “antibody cocktail” as a COVID-19 “cure” that he intended to make available to the American public.
Snopes→ Did Fauci Praise Trump’s Handling of COVID-19 Pandemic?
Dr. Anthony Fauci said his comments in a campaign ad for President Trump were taken out of context.
Snopes→ Did Trump Add 11.6M Jobs to U.S. Economy During Pandemic?
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence made the claim during a debate with Democratic rival U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris.
Snopes→ 4 Swiss Guards Test Positive As COVID-19 Penetrates Vatican
The Swiss Guards, the world’s oldest standing army, provide ceremonial guard duty during papal Masses, man the Vatican gates and help protect the 83-year-old Pope Francis.
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘My Blood IS the Vaccine’ Tweet
On October 9 2020, as speculation mounted about United States President Donald Trump’s health following his COVID-19 diagnosis, a purported tweet circulated in screenshot form: The alleged tweet, which was dated October 5 2020, said simply,
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Trump Warn Iran not to ‘F-ck Around With Us’?
As speculation continued to mount around the condition of United States President Donald Trump, one moment from an interview he gave to right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh on October 9 2020 drew attention online. Trump phoned into Limbaugh’s sh
Snopes→ Did Trump Tweet ‘My Blood IS the Vaccine’?
There's a tweet for everything, especially when you include the fake ones.
Snopes→ Did Jane Fonda Say COVID-19 Was ‘God’s Gift to the Left’?
The controversial actor and left-wing activist provoked an outraged response in October 2020.
Snopes→ Will Over Half A Million Sharks Be Killed for COVID-19 Vaccine?
A natural oil produced in shark livers is often — but not always — used in the manufacturing of vaccinations.
Health Feedback→ Mortality in the U.S. was more than 280,000 higher during the first eight months of 2020 than any of the previous five years over the same period
REVIEW A recurring claim during the COVID-19 pandemic is that the mortality in 2020 is similar to that of previous years. Such allegations downplay the extent and seriousness of the pandemic by suggesting that COVID-19 has no impact on the overall n
Snopes→ Stocks Drop After President Trump Calls off Stimulus Talks
The Dow Jones Industrial Average swung instantly from a gain of about 200 points to a loss of about 300 points.
Snopes→ Military Leaders Quarantined After Official Tests Positive
The chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and other top military leaders are under quarantine after a senior Coast Guard official tested positive for the coronavirus.
Snopes→ CDC Says Coronavirus Can Spread Indoors in Updated Guidance
The top U.S. public health agency said that the coronavirus can spread more than 6 feet through the air, especially in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces.
Truth or Fiction?→ Was Rudy Giuliani Filmed with Discoloration on his Hands?
As news spread of a rash of coronavirus infections hitting United States President Donald Trump as well as his wife and other Republican allies, online users raised their own questions in October 2020 about the health of Trump’s attorney Rudy Gi
Health Feedback→ The flu shot is an effective measure to protect people from flu, and enhances protection when used with face masks
REVIEW Facebook posts questioning why people need a flu shot if they always wear face masks began circulating as early as 21 September 2020 and went viral on Facebook (see example). These posts describe a person’s purported conversation with a nur
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Dr. Luke Die from COVID-19?
A pair of people on social media managed to create some online confusion around music producer Lukasz Sebastian Gottwald, a.k.a. “Dr. Luke,” on October 4 2020 — apparently independently of one another. The posts both claimed, falsel
Snopes→ Is This ‘Avoiding the Future Plague’ Video a Real PSA From the 1950s?
This public service announcement doesn't provide much of a public service.
Snopes→ Trump Aims for Monday Release After Supporter Drive-By
The move capped a weekend of contradictions that fueled confusion about President Trump’s health, which has imperiled the leadership of the U.S. government and upended the final stages of the presidential campaign.
Health Feedback→ COVID-19 vaccines are not expected to be available for the public before several months, contrary to viral claim on social media
REVIEW An article published by SHTFplan.com on 16 September 2020 and reposted on the website Beforeitsnews.com, titled “the [U.S] government has released their initial plans to force a [COVID-19] vaccine on everyone”, has gone viral in early Oct
Snopes→ When Did Trump Test Positive for COVID-19? Speculation Swirls
The public first learned that U.S. President Donald Trump tested positive for COVID-19 just before midnight on Oct. 1, 2020.
Snopes→ Did Federal Food Aid Boxes Include White House Letter Crediting Trump?
More than 100 million food aid boxes were distributed across the United States in 2020 in response to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Truth or Fiction?→ Did the Trump Campaign Use His COVID-19 Diagnosis in a Fundraising Message?
As speculation circulated online following United States President Donald Trump’s announcement late on October 1 2020 (or early on October 2 2020, depending on your time zone) that both he and First Lady Melania Trump had tested positive for CO
Truth or Fiction?→ Did the Trump Campaign Use His COVID-19 Diagnosis in a Fundraising Message?
As speculation circulated online following United States President Donald Trump’s announcement late on October 1 2020 (or early on October 2 2020, depending on your time zone) that both he and First Lady Melania Trump had tested positive for CO
Truth or Fiction?→ Did a Twitter User Tweet That Trump’s October Surprise Will be the Announcement of ‘His Infection’?
Just after midnight Eastern time on October 2 2020, news broke that United States President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for novel coronavirus; a screenshot of a September 18 2020 tweet began circulating shortly thereafter
Truth or Fiction?→ Did a Twitter User Tweet That Trump’s October Surprise Will be the Announcement of ‘His Infection’?
Just after midnight Eastern time on October 2 2020, news broke that United States President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for novel coronavirus; a screenshot of a September 18 2020 tweet began circulating shortly thereafter
Snopes→ Were ‘Doomsday Planes’ Mobilized After Trump’s COVID-19 Diagnosis?
Rumors took off when a scheduled launch of two "doomsday planes" seemed to coincide with the announcement of the president's diagnosis.
Health Feedback→ COVID-19 is at least an order of magnitude more deadly than seasonal flu, according to current estimates
REVIEW An Instagram post by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claiming that COVID-19 is less deadly than flu started circulating on 27 September 2020. The post replicates a table included in a 10 September 2020 update from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control a
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Couple Dies of Corona Virus in Meth Lab Explosion’
A meme crudely making light of the COVID-19 pandemic by imitating a news report cycled through at least three different iterations as it recirculated online again and again through social media. The graphic shows a damaged building alongside a mocked-
Health Feedback→ There have been more COVID-19 deaths than abortions worldwide over two days since June 2020
REVIEW Facebook posts comparing the total number of deaths from COVID-19 with the number of abortions worldwide have circulated since at least March 2020 (see example). Similar posts once again went viral in September 2020, albeit in a slightly diff
Snopes→ COVID-19 Cases Rising Among US Children as Schools Reopen
Children of all ages now make up 10% of all U.S cases, up from 2% in April.
Health Feedback→ In spite of its relatively small infection fatality ratio, COVID-19 has led to many deaths due to high virus transmission
REVIEW The claim that the COVID-19 pandemic response has been unwarranted has taken many forms. Some involved misleading comparisons with other respiratory diseases like the flu and tuberculosis, while others relied on misinterpretations of COVID-19
Snopes→ Did Trump Inherit a ‘Depleted’ Stockpile of Ventilators From Obama?
U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly tried to buck the blame for the “empty cupboards” of federal emergency medical supplies.
Health Feedback→ Using face masks correctly does not increase the risk of skin or oral infections
REVIEW Facebook posts claiming that face masks promote bacterial and fungal overgrowth and lead to skin and oral infections (see examples here, here, and here) went viral in late September 2020. As we explain below, these claims are unsupported as s