It took six months to get to 10 million cases after the virus first appeared. It took just over six weeks for that number to double.
Publication: covid-19
Health Feedback→ Contrary to claim in viral Facebook post, the flu vaccine does work and certain types of cancers can be cured
REVIEW A Facebook post published at the end of July 2020 expressed skepticism at how we could “make a vaccine in 6 months for an illness that [we] STILL don’t understand”—heavily implied to be COVID-19—by claiming that we “can’
Snopes→ Pro-Russia Vaccine Misinfo Finds Home in US Facebook Groups
As various countries race to produce a successful coronavirus vaccine, disinformation experts are bracing for a steady drum of misleading claims and propaganda aimed at undermining competing countries’ efforts to develop an antidote.
Health Feedback→ Hydroxychloroquine, alone or in combination with azithromycin, found ineffective for treating COVID-19 in large clinical trials
REVIEW In late July 2020, numerous memes on social media spread the unsupported claim that hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), azithromycin (AZM), and zinc can cure COVID-19. Other versions questioned why the drug is considered unsafe for COVID-19 patients wh
Health Feedback→ Wearing masks aims at slowing SARS-CoV-2 circulation, not protecting against a certain death
REVIEW In August 2020, a post circulating on social media, which received millions of views, questioned how people who are not wearing face masks in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic have still remained alive. Using the rhetorical technique of “j
Snopes→ Hiring Slows as US Adds 1.8 Million Jobs in July
July's job gain was much lower than June's 4.8 million and May's 2.7 million jobs.
Snopes→ Can You Get Legionnaires’ Disease from Face Masks?
Rumors about masks are getting more creative, but health experts still recommend wearing cloth face coverings to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
Snopes→ Did Jared Kushner’s Task Force Scrap Nationwide COVID-19 Testing Over Politics?
The pandemic response team led by Kushner, senior adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, reportedly did not want to extend help to blue states.
Snopes→ Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine Tests Positive Ahead of Trump Visit
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine tested positive for the coronavirus just ahead a planned meeting with President Donald Trump.
Poynter→ Madonna and Bocelli: COVID-19 also shows that our heroes are not so perfect
One of the unexpected effects of the quarantine is that it equals us. It doesn’t matter where you are, what work you do, what your age is or how much money you have in the bank. Quarantine forces us to be at home, with our fears and thoughts. And
Snopes→ 1.2 Million Seek Jobless Aid After $600 Federal Check Ends
It is the 20th straight week that at least 1 million people have sought jobless aid.
Poynter→ Why claims of hypocrisy work in the spread of misinformation
Factually is a newsletter about fact-checking and accountability journalism, from Poynter’s International Fact-Checking Network & the American Press Institute’s Accountability Project. Sign up here How hoaxers use hypocrisy We’ve long kno
Truth or Fiction?→ Was a Georgia High School’s Senior Class Photographed Together Without Masks?
Online criticism concerning safety measures in schools trying to reopen amid the COVID-19 pandemic circulated around a second Georgia school in August 2020 as a photo spread online showing an entire senior class gathered together without face covering
Truth or Fiction?→ Did U.S. President Donald Trump Say ‘When I Took Over, We Didn’t Even Have a Test’ for COVID-19 During an Axios Interview?
On August 5 2020, a quote meme was shared to Imgur referencing an Axios interview which August 3 2020, and it quoted United States President Donald Trump as saying that when he “took over … we didn’t even have a test” for COVID
Snopes→ Did Boys in China Die After Wearing Face Masks During Physical Exercise?
English-language news outlets shared a set of reports that emerged from Hunan and Henan provinces in the spring and summer of 2020.
Snopes→ Did Spirit Halloween Say It Would Not Open Stores in 2020?
Halloween may look a little different in 2020, but not due to a lack of Spirit Halloween stores.
Snopes→ Did Fauci Say in 2005 Virology Journal That Hydroxychloroquine Can Treat SARS?
Shockingly, a screenshot of an opinion piece excerpt omitted some important facts.
Truth or Fiction?→ First Day of School in Paulding County, Georgia
On August 4 2020, a purported photograph of the first day of school in Paulding County, Georgia circulated on social media — showing a densely crowded school hallway and only a few students wearing masks: The same image was shared t
Snopes→ Census Ending Data Collection for 2020 Count a Month Early
The move is worrying researchers, politicians and others who say the change will miss hard-to-count communities, including minorities and immigrants, and produce less trustworthy data.
Snopes→ Wave of Evictions Expected as Moratoriums End in Many States
The federal eviction moratorium that protects more than 12 million renters living in federally subsidized apartments or units with federally backed mortgages expired July 25.
Poynter→ The International Fact-Checking Network introduces a Portuguese version of its WhatsApp chatbot
The International Fact-Checking Network is adding a fourth language to its WhatsApp Chatbot — Portuguese. The global alliance of over 90 fact-checking organizations housed at the Poynter Institute has previously launched versions of the free tool in
Health Feedback→ Health authorities encourage the general public to wear face masks to reduce COVID-19 transmission
REVIEW An enormous variety of social media posts questioning the safety and efficacy of face masks to control the spread of COVID-19 have backed their claims by citing health authorities such as the World Health Organization (example), the U.S. Cent
Snopes→ Did Obituary Blame Trump for Man’s COVID-19 Death?
An emotional obituary for David W. Nagy condemned all who have failed to heed the advice of medical professionals during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.
Snopes→ Did Democrats Fail To Wear Masks at John Lewis’ Funeral?
This photograph actually predates the COVID-19 pandemic by about five years.
Snopes→ Does Coronavirus Linger in the Body?
There are a few places in the body that are less accessible to the immune system and where it is difficult to eradicate all viral infections.
Snopes→ Hong Kong Postpones Elections by a Year, Citing Coronavirus
The city of 7.5 million people has had a surge in coronavirus infections since the beginning of July.
Health Feedback→ Still no evidence that hydroxychloroquine can cure or prevent COVID-19
REVIEW This claim first appeared in a 27 July 2020 live stream video (transcript archived here) published by Breitbart News. The video features a group of physicians, self-identified as members of America’s Frontline Doctors, who advocate against
Snopes→ Will a Trump Order Drop Insulin Price to ‘Pennies A Day’?
The president described it as a "massive cost savings," but the fine print of his executive order lacked specifics.
Snopes→ Stella Immanuel’s Theories on the Relationship Between Demons, Illness, and Sex Have a Long History
Such beliefs have deep roots in early Jewish and Christian stories — one reason they continue to persist today.
Truth or Fiction?→ Did a Pennsylvania Lawmaker Release a Statement Mocking the State Health Secretary?
A Pennsylvania state lawmaker came under criticism for attempting to compare the transgender community to people refusing to follow guidelines against spreading the COVID-19 pandemic. A statement from State Rep. Russ Diamond allegedly standing up for
Snopes→ Is FEMA Offering Hazard Pay Due to COVID-19?
Hyperlinks are often included to provide additional information ... or, in this case, punchlines.
Snopes→ Who Are ‘America’s Frontline Doctors’ and Dr. Stella Immanuel?
Thousands of readers inquired about people featured in a viral video pulled by social media companies for pushing COVID-19 misinformation in July 2020.
Poynter→ This is how you can take oxygen away from those false videos about COVID-19
This was a tough week for those who are at the forefront of the war against disinformation. Two cases of great media impact made it clear that the battles are growing in complexity and that everyone should know by now how they can help to take oxygen a
Snopes→ Former GOP Presidential Candidate Herman Cain Dies of COVID-19
The former pizza company executive and presidential candidate was 74.
Snopes→ US Economy Shrank at Record-Breaking 33% Rate Last Quarter
The plunge is by far the worst on record dating to 1947.
Snopes→ Misinformation on Coronavirus is Proving Highly Contagious
Experts worry the torrent of bad information is dangerously undermining efforts to slow the virus, whose death toll in the U.S. hit 150,000 on July 29.
Poynter→ Doctors’ cries of censorship become part of their message
Factually is a newsletter about fact-checking and accountability journalism, from Poynter’s International Fact-Checking Network & the American Press Institute’s Accountability Project. Sign up here Misinformation and claims of censorship The ma
Snopes→ Does Farting Negate the Use of Masks to Prevent COVID-19?
It's natural to pass gas, but please don't pass along this meme.
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Elon Musk Tweet ‘We Will Coup Whoever We Want, Deal With It’?
On July 29 2020, comedian Lee Camp shared the following image, which quoted Elon Musk as saying the United States would “coup whoever we want,” and to “deal with it”: Across an image of Musk, text read: My name is Elon Musk.
Snopes→ Rep. Gohmert Tests Positive for COVID-19, Cancels Trump Trip
An eight-term lawmaker, Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas is often seen without wearing a mask.