Claims of COVID-19 being fraud debunked
Misinformation about the new coronavirus has been rampant on social media.
One Facebook post claimed COVID-19 is a “fraud,” citing no sources or evidence. The poster did not respond to a request for comment.
The reasons, according to the post: “COVID-19 is NOT killing people, weak immune systems and bad doctors are. The tests are rigged. The death count is false. Masks are useless. Hand sanitizer is toxic. Vaccines are poison. The government and media are lying.”
The claim that COVID-19 is not a cause of death gained traction in late summer, when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released statistics about the impact of preexisting conditions on those who contract the virus.
Though a preexisting condition or comorbidity may have exacerbated or contributed to the cause of death, it is not the sole reason why someone died.
For example, those with asthma are at a higher risk of complications from COVID-19. If they contracted the virus and died, their asthma didn’t kill them, the virus did.
‘ The tests are rigged’
The post did not specify how coronavirus tests are supposedly rigged.
Testing availability and reporting of cases vary by city and state and even further by universities or school districts.
Scientists and medical experts explained that we learn more about the virus every day, including how testing accuracy can be improved and how effective mitigation efforts are.
‘ The death count is false’
The post did not clarify whether the death count was inflated or reduced.
The death toll from COVID-19 in the USA has surpassed 216,000, and the international death toll has passed 1 million.
Conspiracy theories argue the death toll has been inflated, but experts say it’s probably the opposite, citing lack of testing, false negatives and uncounted home deaths.
‘Masks are useless’
When the U.S. outbreak started, health officials and organizations said masks needed to be reserved for health care workers, given the shortage of personal protective equipment.
Masks have been very effective in helping to slow the transmission of COVID-19. Robert Redfield, director of the CDC, said masks may be more helpful than a vaccine in the fight against the virus.
“These face masks are the most important powerful public health tool we have,” Redfield said.
‘Hand sanitizer is toxic’
Despite many warnings at the local and national level, some Americans are still ingesting cleaning and bleach products in an attempt to self-treat the virus.
When used properly, hand sanitizer – like other cleaning products – is not toxic.
That being said, it’s important that consumers are informed about the products they purchase. In July, the Food and Drug Administration warned the American public to avoid various imported hand sanitizers, citing reports of injuries – both from general use and ingestion – associated with the products.
The FDA has a running list of hand-sanitizing products that should be avoided.
‘Vaccines are poison’
The anti-vaccine movement has been on the rise, and many of its claims are being directed at the COVID-19 vaccine before it is released.
Generally speaking, the anti-vax movement believes that vaccines are poisonous and dangerous, which is not accurate.
According to the CDC, the general cycle for the development of vaccines has six stages: exploratory, preclinical, clinical development, regulatory review and approval, manufacturing and quality control.
Development of a typical vaccine can take years, but because of factors such as prioritization and global interest, the COVID-19 vaccine timeline may be much shorter.
To ensure that the vaccine is safe, the same strict protocol is followed.
According to the World Health Organization, as of Sept. 22, there are 38 vaccines in the clinical evaluation stage, and 149 are in the preclinical evaluation.
Despite what the anti-vax movement says, vaccines are not released to the public until they are safe. The United States has a strict policy for vaccine development and approval, which the COVID-19 vaccine must abide by.
‘ The government and media are lying’
Though government officials or media outlets may inaccurately report points, the facts about the new coronavirus are simple.
COVID-19 is a real virus. There are more than 38 million reported infections globally.
The elderly and those with preexisting conditions are more susceptible to complications from the virus, but good health and youth don’t guarantee a complication-free experience.
According to medical experts, the best mitigation strategy is to wear masks in public and socially distance when possible. There is no exact date for the release of a vaccine, but when one is released, it will have followed the appropriate protocol to ensure safety and effectiveness.
Though there are politicians and reports that don’t tell the full story or misconstrue facts, neither the government or the media are working to misinform the public about the coronavirus.
Our rating: False
Each claim has been debunked by medical experts and organizations. Only a portion of the claim on hand sanitizer has a bit of truth, that consumers should be wary of some ingredients. The overarching statement that sanitizer is toxic is unfounded. The post did not provide any citations or evidence to support the claims.