COVID-19 Covid-19 - myths, scams and misinformation

Lady Kelly

Lady Kelly

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I thought it would be good to compile some trustworthy links for fact checking information going around the internet to help us all be reassured and also to stop us from being involved in spreading panic.

Please add any links you have if you know the website is trustworthy. If you come across anything you aren't sure whether the information is correct then maybe we can do searching before it gets shared further.
Here are tips on how you can help to stop the spread of misinformation: How you can stop viral misinformation
Here is how you can verify whether a post or a video is genuine or not: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-53273883


Misinformation that is making the rounds:
Coronavirus Hoaxes and Rumours Archives - ThatsNonsense.com

Six coronavirus health myths fact-checked
More myths: Coronavirus: Health myths to ignore
Even more myths: More coronavirus myths to ignore
Some other persistent myths: Health myths busted
More new or persistent false claims about Covid-19: BCG and other coronavirus rumours fact-checked
Politicians' claims debunked: False coronavirus claims by politicians debunked
The latest persistent false claims and fake medications making the rounds: Coronavirus: Health claims debunked
Trumps latest claims: Trump’s claims about disinfectant and sunlight fact-checked

Did study show majority of COVID-19 fatalities had Ibuprofen in their system? Fact Check - ThatsNonsense.com

Fake News Alert: Bananas, gargling with salt water won’t protect you from COVID-19, Sal
 
This might be a bit out of place, but this is a website for checking accurate numbers of infected currently in the U.S. It's updated roughly every 6 hours, or as large developments happen. There's also a link to live coverage of the virus.

Tracking Every Coronavirus Case in the U.S.: Full Map

There's a lot of misinformation out there about numbers here. I don't know if that's the same for the UK though.
 
Should also mention that NCSC has noted an uptick in various phishing scams related to the virus, if you have an email about NCOV19 that seems to come from a public health authority, however convincing it is, the government don't have your email address, so delete and ignore. This situation shows the mettle of some people, and unfortunately, some people are absolute scum, in any just world, we'd send them to Porton Down to give the lab animals a break.
 
Wiebke said:
Here is a fascinating BBC article about how some Coronavirus fake news have spread around the world: How bad information goes viral
Click to expand...

A really interesting read. I have shared it on Facebook after getting into an argument with someone the other day who copy and pasted "just in case" it were true
 
LunaOreoPigz said:
On the bbc news channel it said a tiger in brooklyn zoo cuaght it off a keeper( i think its true because it was on a reliable source
Click to expand...

There is a suspicion but no firm proof yet. Tests can tell only the presence of any coronavirus (of which tigers have several) but they can't tell whether it is Covid-19 or another one.

Please keep in mind that this is a fluid situation. We can only follow the information and advice of specialist people that have looked at what is known at any time.

The same advice that we have been giving to pet owners with infectious diseases for years before Covid-19 still applies: wash your hands before and after you touch, feed or clean any pet and their stuff/housing.
Ideally you stay away from them, keep them in another room than the one you are using while ill and have somebody else looking after them. If you can't, interact with them as little as possible during the acute period and just stick to feeding and any necessary medication.

We are not seeing thousands of badly ill or dead pets and so far there hasn't been any case reported where anybody has caught Covid-10 from their pet.

Good old fashioned hygiene and commonsense still carry the day.
 
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