The CDC is being extremely careful when deciding what it means to recover from COVID-19.
Publication: covid-19
Truth or Fiction?→ Conspiracy Theorists, Celebrities Push Disinformation Blaming Cell Towers for COVID-19
As conspiracy theories — fanned in part by public figures — continue spreading, feeding into a feverish, misdirected blame leveled at mobile phone towers for the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities in Great Britain are investigating a spate o
Snopes→ Did Millions of Canceled Cellphones Reveal Unreported Coronavirus Deaths in China?
American intelligence agencies have concluded that the Chinese government itself does not know the true death toll from the coronavirus.
Snopes→ Social Media Fuels Wave of Coronavirus Misinformation
Social media users focus on popularity, not accuracy.
Truth or Fiction?→ Did the President of Meharry Medical Advise Sterilizing Cloth Face Masks in the Microwave Between Uses?
Discourse regarding personal protective equipment (PPE, including cloth face masks) was a large part of COVID-19 discussion on social media in early April 2020, including a viral Facebook post that repeats purported advice to sterilize cloth masks by
Truth or Fiction?→ Is New York City Planning ‘Temporary Mass Graves’ in Central Park?
On April 6 2020, the New York Post claimed that New York City was considering “temporary mass graves” in public parks such as Central Park in an article bearing the headline, “NYC may temporarily bury coronavirus victims in parks:
Snopes→ Did Pat Robertson Blame Oral Sex for COVID-19?
A routine review of content labeled satire.
Snopes→ Was This Pandemic Poem Written by Kathleen O’Mara in 1919?
A global pandemic did indeed inspire this poem. But that's as far as it goes.
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Make America Great Again’ Breathing Masks
On April 5 2020, social media was alight with speculation — some fond, some alarmed — at the prospect of what appeared to be a new addition to United States President Donald Trump’s merchandise line. The rumor began on Twitter, whenÂ
Snopes→ Tiger at NYC’s Bronx Zoo Tests Positive for Coronavirus
A tiger at the Bronx Zoo has tested positive for the new coronavirus, in what is believed to be the first known infection in an animal in the U.S. or a tiger anywhere.
Snopes→ U.S. ‘Wasted’ Months Before Preparing for Virus Pandemic
The Trump administration squandered nearly two months that could have been used to bolster the federal stockpile of critically needed medical supplies and equipment.
Snopes→ Why Wear Face Masks in Public? Here’s What the Research Shows
With the coronavirus pandemic quickly spreading, U.S. health officials have changed their advice on face masks and now recommend people wear cloth masks in public areas.
Snopes→ Was That Cough You Had Last November or December COVID-19?
Scientists do not know exactly when or where the first COVID-19 case occurred. Does that mean it could have occurred anywhere?
Snopes→ Eating Alkaline Foods Will Not Kill the Coronavirus
Eating a diet made up of alkaline foods will not prevent someone from being infected with COVID-19 since the body’s pH levels cannot be changed through diet.
Snopes→ Is This a Real Letter from Trump to US Sen. Chuck Schumer?
Some questioned whether an acrimonious letter from U.S. President Donald Trump to the senator from coronavirus-stricken New York was real.
Snopes→ No, This Is Not a Phone Number for Tracking Your Coronavirus Stimulus Payments
The IRS has not announced if Americans will be able to track the status of their stimulus payments as they do federal income tax refunds.
Snopes→ Why Health Experts Aren’t Warning About Coronavirus in Food
The CDC and other experts note that the virus is new and still being studied, but they say there’s no evidence yet that COVID-19 sickens people through their digestive systems.
Truth or Fiction?→ Was Jon Bon Jovi Photographed Washing Dishes Inside a Restaurant?
Rock star Jon Bon Jovi attracted a new fan and new admiration online after a Facebook user shared his own testimonial praising the singer and entrepreneur for putting in work to help others amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In his March 27 2020 post, Garry
Snopes→ Are Thieves Handing Out Masks With Chemicals That Make You Pass Out?
Memes exploiting fear over the ongoing coronavirus pandemic have been widespread on social media.
Truth or Fiction?→ Was the United States’ Strategic National Stockpile Website Altered After Remarks by Jared Kushner?
Journalists and social media users alike keyed on to a change to a government website after heavily-criticized remarks by presidential advisor Jared Kushner. On April 2 2020, Kushner was discussing the use of the Strategic National Stockpile as part o
Truth or Fiction?→ Are COVID-19 Patients With High BMIs Being Denied Ventilators?
As the burgeoning COVID-19 pandemic became more omnipresent in American life in mid-March 2020, Twitter and Instagram rumors about coronavirus patients with high body mass indices being denied ventilator treatment began to spread. On Twitter on March
Snopes→ Did Uninsured Teen Die of COVID-19 After Being Denied Treatment?
A story that went viral was later clarified with regard to key details.
Snopes→ Small Trial Finds Hydroxychloroquine Is Not Effective for Treating Coronavirus
A trial of an anti-malaria drug in France found different results from a similar study published the previous month.
Snopes→ Does ‘Tiger King’ Joe Exotic Have Coronavirus?
The Netflix documentary subject was put in isolation after he supposedly came in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
Snopes→ Is This a Text from an NHS Worker?
A viral hoax warned against going out to buy bread, of all things, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Snopes→ Should We Wear Masks or Not? An Expert Sorts Through the Confusion
The guidance on masks appears to be shifting, but social distancing is still the key step people can take.
Snopes→ What the Coronavirus Does to Your Body That Makes It So Deadly
As with SARS, most of the damage in COVID-19 is caused by the immune system carrying out a scorched earth defense to stop the virus from spreading.
Truth or Fiction?→ Do You Have to Request a COVID-19 Forbearance for Student Loans?
Social media users’ concern over their student loans in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic found themselves dealing with conflicting information — even from the agencies. Prior to the passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Se
Truth or Fiction?→ EMS Workers in New York City, Long Island, Receive Orders Not to Transport Patients Who Cannot Be Resuscitated in the Field
In early April 2020, alarming news spread across social media — that Emergency Medical Services teams in New York City and on Long Island were given orders not to transport any patients who could not be resuscitated in the field: Just heard a
Snopes→ Does George Soros Own a Lab That ‘Developed’ COVID-19?
Somehow, some way, business magnate George Soros gets accused of being involved in almost every politically contentious event.
Snopes→ Was a 5G Tower Torn Down in China To Stop COVID-19?
This video is real, but it has nothing to do with 5G or the coronavirus pandemic.
Snopes→ Did Experts and Officials Warn in 2018 US Couldn’t Respond Effectively to a Pandemic?
Such individuals have made repeated warnings about U.S. readiness in the event of a pandemic.
Truth or Fiction?→ Is a Homophobic Church Group Running a COVID-19 Clinic in New York City?
A mobile clinic erected in New York City to help residents infected by COVID-19 (a.k.a. the “coronavirus”) is not only run by radical homophobic cleric Franklin Graham, it is requiring volunteer workers to express support for an anti-LGBTQ
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Dr. Fauci Predict a Serious Pandemic During Trump’s Presidency — in 2017?
White House Coronavirus Task Force lead member Dr. Anthony Fauci was a widely familiar face throughout the coronavirus pandemic (due in part to what many perceived as a soberingly honest approach to the crisis), and by late March 2020, Fauci was rumor
Snopes→ Did an Orangutan Start Hand-Washing During COVID-19 Pandemic?
Sandra the orangutan loves to wash her hands. We should all be more like Sandra.
Snopes→ Did Trump Golf, Hold Rallies After Learning About COVID-19 Threat?
After Sen. Mitch McConnell suggested the government's response to the initial coronavirus outbreak was in part distracted by the president's impeachment, rebuttal memes started flying.
Snopes→ The Origins and Scientific Failings of the COVID-19 ‘Bioweapon’ Conspiracy Theory
The coronavirus responsible for COVID-19 has deadly adaptations that make it perfect for infecting humans. But this is a testament to natural selection, not bioengineering.
Snopes→ Did the Kennedy Center Donate Stimulus Money to the DNC?
A viral meme suggested the performing arts center "laundered" money for the DNC instead of paying Center employees.
Truth or Fiction?→ Andrew Cuomo’s Pierced Nipples, Explained
On March 31 2020, a bored-in-quarantine internet turned its attention to a state governor getting national attention, and decided a photograph showed Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s “pierced nipples.” A post to Reddit’s r/TIHI (“than
Snopes→ Did the Trump Administration Send 18 Tons of PPE to China in Early 2020?
Critics have questioned the wisdom of exporting to China medical supplies that would soon be vitally needed in the U.S.