Example

No.

Date Publication Headline Link Story remains

accessible?

Claim Reality

1 21/01/2020 The Sun "LIKE A BAT

OUTTA HELL China

coronavirus: Fears

outbreak is linked to

bat soup sold at

Wuhan market".

https://ww

w.thesun.c

o.uk/news

/10801901

/china-

coronaviru

s-

outbreak-

wuhan/

Removed. That the virus originated with the

consumption of bat soup,

including a video of bat soup

being consumed.

No such link has been proven. The

origin of the video is unclear.

2 03/02/2020 The Sun HOT TODDY

'REMEDY'

Coronavirus UK –

First Brit known to

catch virus ‘beat

deadly flu with glass

of hot whisky and

honey’

https://ww

w.thesun.c

o.uk/news

/10876645

/coronavir

us-uk-brit-

virus-

china-

wuhan/

Yes An individual recovered from

COVID-19 by drinking whiskey

and honey.

There is on evidence to suggest that

honey or whiskey can “beat”

COVID-19.

The WHO:

Drinking alcohol does not protect you

against COVID-19 and can be

dangerous.

3 10/02/2020 The Sun “Chilling satellite pics

‘show extent of

corpse burning in

Wuhan’”

https://ww

w.thesun.c

o.uk/legal-

removal/1

0933910/c

hina-

accused-

major-

coronaviru

s-cover-

up-

chilling-

satellite-

pics/

Removed. Satellite images showing high

levels of sulphur dioxide above

China are possible evidence of

mass cremations of people who

have died from coronavirus.

Full Fact:

False. The maps are not satellite

images, and do not show actual

levels of sulphur dioxide. They are

simply forecasts based on historical

data and weather patterns.

4 10/02/2020 The Daily

Express

“Coronavirus satellite

image: Does THIS

image show REAL

scale of virus

cremations?”

https://ww

w.express.

co.uk/new

s/world/12

40523/Cor

onavirus-

satellite-

image-

scale-of-

coronaviru

s-

outbreak-

infections-

coronaviru

s-

Removed. Satellite images showing high

levels of sulphur dioxide above

China are possible evidence of

mass cremations of people who

have died from coronavirus.

Full Fact:

False. The maps are not satellite

images, and do not show actual

levels of sulphur dioxide. They are

simply forecasts based on historical

data and weather patterns.

Example

No.

Date Publication Headline Link Story remains

accessible?

Claim Reality

5 16/02/2020 The Mail “Did coronavirus

originate in Chinese

government

laboratory? Scientists

believe killer disease

may have begun in

research facility 300

yards from Wuhan

wet fish market”

https://ww

w.dailyma

il.co.uk/ne

ws/article-

8009669/

Did-

coronaviru

s-

originate-

Chinese-

governme

nt-

laboratory

.html

Yes Scientists believe that coronavirus

may have come from bats in a

Chinese research facility.

Full Fact:

Two Chinese scientists have

published an article suggesting that

the 2019 coronavirus outbreak could

have originated from bats in a

laboratory in Wuhan. However, apart

from maps showing the proximity of

laboratories, they offer no evidence

to prove this.

6 16/02/2020 The Sun “THE coronavirus

could have spread

from a Wuhan

laboratory which

housed 600 bats

which attacked and

“peed on” scientists,

experts say.”

https://ww

w.thesun.c

o.uk/news

/10973774

/coronavir

us-wuhan-

lab-bats-

attacked/

Yes Scientists believe that coronavirus

may have come from bats in a

Chinese research facility.

Full Fact:

Two Chinese scientists have

published an article suggesting that

the 2019 coronavirus outbreak could

have originated from bats in a

laboratory in Wuhan. However, apart

from maps showing the proximity of

laboratories, they offer no evidence

to prove this.

7 17/02/2020 The

Express

“Did scientists know

about coronavirus

before outbreak?

'Disease X' warning

revealed”

https://ww

w.express.

co.uk/new

s/world/12

43420/cor

onavirus-

news-

scientists-

knew-

illness-

disease-x-

outbreak-

death-toll-

spt

Yes Scientists may have known about

the new coronavirus long ago and

called it “Disease X”.

Full Fact:

They didn’t. This is a

misunderstanding about the phrase

“Disease X”, which the WHO used

to denote an unknown serious new

disease that might cause a pandemic.

Example

No.

Date Publication Headline Link Story remains

accessible?

Claim Reality

8 27/02/2020 The Sun The NHS hasn’t

advised people to stop

shaking hands to

avoid the Wuhan

coronavirus

https://ww

w.thesun.c

o.uk/news

/11052741

/coronavir

us-wash-

hands-

ban-

handshake

s/

Yes The NHS has warned people

should not shake hands to prevent

the spread of the Wuhan

coronavirus

Full Fact:

This is incorrect. Although some

doctors have suggested this may be a

good idea, no advice around shaking

hands had been issued by the

government at this time.

9 04/03/2020 The Mail Did coronavirus leak

from a research lab in

Wuhan? Startling new

theory is 'no longer

being discounted'

amid claims staff 'got

infected after being

sprayed with blood'

https://ww

w.dailyma

il.co.uk/ne

ws/article-

8188159/

Did-

coronaviru

s-leak-

research-

lab-

Wuhan-

Startling-

new-

theory-no-

longer-

discounted

.html

Yes China may have developed

COVID-19 in a lab.

Full Fact:

There is “no evidence” for this.

10 10/03/2020 The

Express

“Coronavirus may

have been genetically

engineered for the

“efficient spreading in

the human

population,” a

bombshell new study

has claimed.”

https://ww

w.express.

co.uk/new

s/weird/12

53135/cor

onavirus-

geneticall

y-

engineere

d-

bioweapo

n-wuhan-

lab-leak-

covid19-

spt

Yes Coronavirus may have been

genetically engineered for

“efficient spreading in the human

population,” a bombshell new

study has claimed.

Full Fact:

This is wrong and the study does not

claim the new coronavirus has been

genetically engineered. It simply

compares the genome sequence of

SARS-CoV-2 with other

coronaviruses, and suggests a reason

why it might be spreading relatively

efficiently.

Example

No.

Date Publication Headline Link Story remains

accessible?

Claim Reality

11 10/03/2020 The

Express

Coronavirus news:

Once infected you

could have COVID-

19 virus FOR LIFE,

warns expert

https://ww

w.express.

co.uk/new

s/science/

1253132/

Coronavir

us-news-

infection-

COVID19

-for-life-

virus-

warning-

latest-

coronaviru

s?int_sour

ce=traffic.

outbrain&

int_mediu

m=traffic.

outbrain&

int_term=t

raffic.outb

rain&int_c

ontent=tra

ffic.outbra

in&int_ca

mpaign=tr

affic.outbr

ain

Yes Individuals could suffer from

COVID-19 for life.

An expert had commented that some

people occasionally will retain an

inactive form of the virus (this

happens with other viruses). There

was no “warning”, because there is

no suggestion that people will suffer

the virus symptomatically for life.

12 12/03/2020 The Mirror Coronavirus 'may

cause damage to

men's testicles',

doctors warn

https://ww

w.mirror.c

o.uk/scien

ce/corona

virus-

may-

cause-

damage-

mens-

21681342

Yes Mens' reproductive health

affected by COVID-19.

The article refers to a report, since

retracted, which has not been peer-

reviewed and is almost entirely

speculative in nature.

BioNews:

A report published online that

suggests the novel coronavirus may

lead to male infertility has now been

removed...the team did not perform a

study to assess male fertility in

patients who had been infected with

the coronavirus, and there is no

evidence to suggest that the virus is

found in the testes.

13 19/03/2020 The Sun Flu, anti-malaria,

arthritis and HIV

drugs ‘showing

promise’ in fight

against coronavirus

https://ww

w.thesun.c

o.uk/news

/11206632

/flu-

malaria-

arthritis-

hiv-drugs-

coronaviru

s/

Yes Drugs used for flu and other

viruses have been shown in tests

to offer a possible cure for

COVID-19.

Story implies tests have been carried

out on patients, when it has all been

lab-based. Claims China has reported

one drug successfully cures patients,

but provides no evidence of China

doing so.

Example

No.

Date Publication Headline Link Story remains

accessible?

Claim Reality

14 24/03/2020 The Sun [Bill Gates “quote”

story]: as reported by

Buzzfeed

https://ww

w.buzzfee

d.com/joe

ydurso/cor

onavirus-

fake-bill-

gates-

quote

Removed. A quote reportedly given by Bill

Gates was published. The “quote”

suggested it is Mr Gates’ view

that the virus has some

supernatural purpose.

The quote was an invention: Mr

Gates never said it. It is particularly

dangerous given the conspiracy

theories that exist about Bill Gates

and his charitable work.

15 24/03/2020 The Metro [Bill Gates “quote”

story]: as reported by

Buzzfeed.

https://ww

w.buzzfee

d.com/joe

ydurso/cor

onavirus-

fake-bill-

gates-

quote

Removed. A quote reportedly given by Bill

Gates was published. The “quote”

suggested it is Mr Gates’ view

that the virus has some

supernatural purpose.

The quote was an invention: Mr

Gates never said it. It is particularly

dangerous given the conspiracy

theories that exist about Bill Gates

and his charitable work.

16 26/03/2020 The Mail “Coronavirus

symptom tracker

claims up to

6.6MILLION people

in Britain may already

have the life-

threatening infection”

https://ww

w.dailyma

il.co.uk/ne

ws/article-

8154891/

Coronavir

us-tracker-

claims-6-

6MILLIO

N-people-

UK-

it.html

Yes Data from a new app which tracks

symptoms of Covid-19 claims

that up to 6.6 million people in

the UK have the disease.

Full Fact:

This data cannot be extrapolated to

the UK population. The number of

people with Covid-19 may be higher,

lower, or the same as claimed.

17 26/03/2020 The

Telegraph

“Data from the free

Covid Symptom

Tracker suggests that

one in 10 Britons may

now be carrying the

virus.”

https://ww

w.pressrea

der.com/s

earch?que

ry=app&n

ewspapers

=1190&st

art=2020-

3-

27&stop=

2020-3-

27&hideSi

milar=1&t

ype=3&st

ate=3

Yes Data from a new app which tracks

symptoms of Covid-19 claims

that up to 6.6 million people in

the UK have the disease.

Full Fact:

This data cannot be extrapolated to

the UK population. The number of

people with Covid-19 may be higher,

lower, or the same as claimed.

Example

No.

Date Publication Headline Link Story remains

accessible?

Claim Reality

18 26/03/2020 The Sun “Coronavirus

symptom tracker app

suggests

6.6MILLION Brits

already have Covid-

19”

https://ww

w.thesun.c

o.uk/news

/11259093

/coronavir

us-

symptom-

tracker-

app-6-6-

million-

brits/

Yes Data from a new app which tracks

symptoms of Covid-19 claims

that up to 6.6 million people in

the UK have the disease.

Full Fact:

This data cannot be extrapolated to

the UK population. The number of

people with Covid-19 may be higher,

lower, or the same as claimed.

19 26/03/2020 The Star “Fears 5G wifi

networks could be

acting as 'accelerator'

for disease”

https://ww

w.dailysta

r.co.uk/ne

ws/weird-

news/coro

navirus-

fears-5g-

wifi-

networks-

21728189

Yes 5G WiFi networks could be

responsible for the rapid spread of

the new coronavirus.

Full Fact:

This is not true. There is no evidence

that 5G WiFi networks are linked to

the new coronavirus.

20 26/03/2020 The

Express

Coronavirus warning:

Nurse says long nails

is one of the fastest

spreaders of the virus

https://ww

w.express.

co.uk/life-

style/healt

h/1260597

/coronavir

us-update-

cases-

long-

fingernails

-fastest-

spreader-

covid-19

Yes Long nails contribute to the

spread of COVID-19.

This is not an evidentially

substantiated report. It is the opinion

of a single nurse who published a

post on Facebook which went viral.

21 27/03/2020 The

Express

Coronavirus warning

after study suggests

COVID-19 could do

this to men's sexual

health

https://ww

w.express.

co.uk/life-

style/healt

h/1261359

/coronavir

us-cases-

update-

china-

study-

sexual-

hormones-

erectile-

dysfunctio

n

Yes Mens' reproductive health

affected by COVID-19.

The article refers to a report, since

retracted, which has not been peer-

reviewed and is almost entirely

speculative in nature.

BioNews:

A report published online that

suggests the novel coronavirus may

lead to male infertility has now been

removed...the team did not perform a

study to assess male fertility in

patients who had been infected with

the coronavirus, and there is no

evidence to suggest that the virus is

found in the testes.

Example

No.

Date Publication Headline Link Story remains

accessible?

Claim Reality

22 28/03/2020 The Mirror Coronavirus: People

with Down's

syndrome could be

left to die to ‘save’

medical supplies

https://ww

w.mirror.c

o.uk/news

/us-

news/coro

navirus-

people-

downs-

syndrome-

could-

21772296

Yes Coronavirus: People with Down's

syndrome could be left to die to

‘save’ medical supplies.

Despite the Mirror referring to

Down’s Syndrome, cerebral palsy

and autism, the actual guidelines do

not refer to any of these syndromes

or disorders. The actual guidelines

(which come from and relate to

Alabama, USA which is not the

home of many Mirror readers) refer

to “severe or profound mental

retardation”, which sets an entirely

different threshold.

23 28/03/2020 The

Telegraph

This unprecedented

curtailment of our

freedom must end as

soon as possible

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/03/2

8/unprecedented-curtailment-freedom-must-end-soon-

possible/

Clarification later appended

Researchers revised down death toll estimates from 250k to 5.7k.

The estimates were made at

differenet times, by different

researchers, in different

circumstances.

24 31/03/2020 The

Express

Coronavirus

bombshell:

Biosecurity expert

exposes real 'origin of

human virus transfer

https://ww

w.express.

co.uk/new

s/world/12

62659/cor

onavirus-

biosecurit

y-

covid19-

wuhan-

market-

origin-

pangolin-

Yes Pangolins are responsible for

spreading the virus to humans in

the first instance.

There is no conclusive proof that

pangolins are involved in how the

virus spread to humans.

Example

No.

Date Publication Headline Link Story remains

accessible?

Claim Reality

25 31/03/2020 The

Express

Coronavirus when

pregnant: Childbirth

during pandemic will

be 'traumatic' warns

expert

https://ww

w.exhen-

pregnant-

childbirth-

newborns-

covid-19-

cases

Yes Headline suggests being infected

with coronavirus affects

pregnancy.

Article goes on to set out that it's the

view of an individual that, in

Australia, the scarcity of resources

and support available for pregnant

women during the COVID-19 crisis

is likely to lead to a traumatic

experience of pregnancy. There is no

connection to the UK, and COVID-19

does not affect pregnancy directly.

Full Fact:

Based on the limited data available,

the WHO writes, there is currently no

evidence to suggest that pregnant

women are at greater risk of severe

illness from Covid-19 than the

general population. According to the

RCOG, there is also no evidence that

Covid-19 during pregnancy leads to

any problems with the baby’s

development or causes miscarriage.

26 01/04/2020 The Sun JAB HOPE BCG

injection we all had as

kids ‘could protect

against coronavirus’ –

so should we have

another dose?

https://ww

w.thesun.c

o.uk/news

/11292581

/anti-tb-

injection-

protect-

against-

coronaviru

s/

Yes The BCG injection is believed to

protect individuals from COVID-

19.

There is no evidence that the BCG

injection protects individuals from

COVID-19. Trials have not even

begun.

27 01/04/2020 The

Express

Coronavirus

breakthrough: Doctor

featured on Netflix's

Pandemic finds

COVID-19 'cure'

https://ww

w.express.

co.uk/new

s/world/12

63291/cor

onavirus-

news-

cure-

pandemic-

netflix-dr-

jacob-

glanville-

covid-19-

antibodies

-vaccine

Yes Says cure found by Netflix-

featured doctor.

No cure has been found. The doctor

hasn't even been working on the

virus directly.

Example

No.

Date Publication Headline Link Story remains

accessible?

Claim Reality

28 01/04/2020 The

Telegraph

"Ten times more

people die of flu than

covid-19"

Print Print "Ten times more people die of flu

than covid-19"

To produce the claim in the headline,

the Telegraph had to take figures

from a single week (when the death

toll from COVID-19 was far lower

than it is in the present), and wrongly

classify all respiratory illnesses as

“flu”.

It is dangerous disinformation to

suggest that COVID-19 is ten times

less deadly than flu.

29 02/04/2020 The

Express

Coronavirus cure:

Does drinking warm

water help cure

coronavirus?

https://ww

w.express.

co.uk/life-

style/healt

h/1258204

/coronavir

us-cure-

drinking-

warm-

water-

help-cure-

coronaviru

s

Yes Headline suggests drinking water

may help cure Coronavirus.

Article confirms - 80% of the way

down - that it does not. But a fraction

of those who see the headline will

read this detail - believing instead

that drinking warm water may

contribute to protection from

COVID-19.

30 02/04/2020 The

Express

Coronavirus

symptoms: Five signs

you may have already

had the COVID-19

infection

https://ww

w.express.

co.uk/life-

style/healt

h/1262217

/coronavir

us-

symptoms

-signs-

loss-of-

smell-

conjunctiv

itis-

diarrhoea-

tiredness-

tummy-

ache

Yes Symptoms of many common

illnesses are given as possible

signs of having COVID – with the

article suggesting that if you have

experienced them, you are likely

to have already had COVID.

Each symptom would be far more

likely to have been a sign of having

another illness – leaving people still

vulnerable to COVID believing they

may have already had the virus and

are immune.

Example

No.

Date Publication Headline Link Story remains

accessible?

Claim Reality

31 03/04/2020 The Mail Trump-backed anti-

malaria drug

hydroxychloroquien is

the most effective

coronavirus treatment

currently available,

finds international

poll of 6,000 doctors

https://ww

w.dailyma

il.co.uk/ne

ws/article-

8184259/

Malaria-

drug-

hydroxych

loroquine-

effective-

coronaviru

s-

treatment-

currently-

available.

html?ito=s

ocial-

twitter_ma

ilonline

Yes A majority of 6,200 doctors said

hydroxychloroquine is the most

effective coronavirus treatment.

A poll of this kind cannot show

“effectiveness” - it only shows the

anecdotal perceptions of doctors.

There was also not a majority, and the

sample was not representative.

Full Fact:

The poll the data comes from is not

representative of all doctors. 37%, not

a majority, of those involved in

Covid-19 treatment worldwide said

hydroxychloroquine was among the

most effective treatments.

32 29/04/2020 The Mirror No single case of a

child passing

coronavirus to an

adult exists, study

claims

https://ww

w.mirror.c

o.uk/news

/uk-

news/no-

single-

case-

child-

passing-

21949365

Headline

changed.

“No single case of a child passing

coronavirus to an adult exists,

study claims”

In fact, the review found “the role of

children in passing the disease to

others is unknown, in particular given

large numbers of asymptomatic

cases”.

It reported that, “Notably the

China/WHO joint commission could

not recall episodes during contact

tracing where transmission occurred

from a child to an adult”, but this far

from what the Mirror claimed.

Full Fact:

https://fullfact.org/health/children-

transmitting-coronavirus/

Example

No.

Date Publication Headline Link Story remains

accessible?

Claim Reality

33 13/05/2020 The

Telegraph

Exclusive: First

coronavirus antibody

test given approval by

Public Health England

https://ww

w.telegrap

h.co.uk/ne

ws/2020/0

5/13/exclu

sive-first-

coronaviru

s-

antibody-

test-given-

approval-

public/

Updated “One hundred per cent accuracy

of test developed by Swiss firm

Roche confirmed by experts at

PHE's Porton Down facility last

week.”

100% accuracy only applies to

specificity, not sensitivity - meaning

it will not accurately find everyone

infected with the virus.

https://fullfact.org/health/coronavirus

-antibody-tests-accuracy/

34 14/05/2020 The

Telegraph

The official Covid

story is one-sided to

the point of deceit

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/05/

14/official-covid-story-biased-selective-point-deceit/

Clarification later appended

Projections from a study were

based on the (irrational)

assumption that there will be less

travel after lockdown than during

lockdown.

The assumption was that there would

be less mobility after lockdown than

before lockdown was enforced.

35 14/05/2020 The Mail So why did it take so

long? Britain finally

approves 100%

accurate coronavirus

antibody test... but

experts slam PHE for

taking too long as UK

languishes TEN

DAYS behind EU and

US

https://ww

w.dailyma

il.co.uk/ne

ws/article-

8317393/

New-

coronaviru

s-

antibody-

test-100-

accuracy-

PHE-

finds.html

Yes “Swiss pharmaceutical giant

Roche's test is 100 per cent

accurate, meaning it will identify

everyone who has had COVID-

19.”

100% accuracy only applies to

specificity, not sensitivity - meaning

it will not accurately find everyone

infected with the virus.

https://fullfact.org/health/coronavirus

-antibody-tests-accuracy/

36 15/05/2020 The

Express

“Diabetes linked to

quarter of pandemic

deaths in England”

Print Print “Diabetes linked to quarter of

pandemic deaths in England”

Quarter of deceased also had diabetes

- no evidence of "link"

https://fullfact.org/health/diabetes-

covid-19-deaths-england/

Example

No.

Date Publication Headline Link Story remains

accessible?

Claim Reality

37 15/05/2020 The Times Children and adults

have same chance of

getting ill

Print Print Study finds same chance of

illness for children and adults

Study made findings on infections,

not illnesses. Some people are

infected without becoming ill

(displaying symptoms).

https://fullfact.org/health/infection-

illness-children-coronavirus/

38 16/05/2020 The

Telegraph

Neil Ferguson's

Imperial model could

be the most

devastating software

mistake of all time

https://ww

w.telegrap

h.co.uk/te

chnology/

2020/05/1

6/neil-

fergusons-

imperial-

model-

could-

devastatin

g-

software-

mistake/

Clarification later appended

Modelling relied on by the Govt

to justify lockdown is unreliable,

because it uses the outdated

language of "Fortran" and is

"non-deterministic"

The modelling does not use "Fortran"

and is deterministic.

39 01/06/2020 The Sun FIRST CLASS

Schools reopen with

kids in masks and

teachers checking

temps – but 1 million

kept home

https://ww

w.thesun.c

o.uk/news

/11753161

/primary-

schools-

reopen-

today/

Yes “Schools reopen with kids in

masks and teachers checking

temps – but 1 million kept home”

Figures come from a survey of

teachers - not parents - back in early

May. As such it found an outdated,

expected figure - not a factual record

of how many children did not attend

school.

https://fullfact.org/education/one-

million-schools-uncertain/

40 01/06/2020 The Mirror At least one million

primary school pupils

to stay home today

despite reopening

https://ww

w.mirror.c

o.uk/news

/politics/le

ast-one-

million-

primary-

school-

22117231

Yes “At least one million primary

school pupils to stay home today

despite reopening”

Figures come from a survey of

teachers - not parents - back in early

May. As such it found an outdated,

expected figure - not a factual record

of how many children did not attend

school.

https://fullfact.org/education/one-

million-schools-uncertain/

Example

No.

Date Publication Headline Link Story remains

accessible?

Claim Reality

41 17/06/2020 The Mail Terrifying chart

shows how Covid-19

patients who end up in

hospital may be

almost certain to die if

they have a vitamin D

deficiency

https://ww

w.dailyma

il.co.uk/ne

ws/article-

8432321/

Governme

nt-orders-

review-

vitamin-

D-role-

Covid-

19.html

Yes “Nearly 99 per cent of Covid-19

patients who are vitamin D

deficient die, according to a

terrifying study”

The study referred to was a "preprint"

(not yet peer reviewed), was

subsequently taken down, and did not

make clear how sample was chosen.

https://fullfact.org/health/vitamin-d-

study-flawed/

42 18/06/2020 The

Express

[Unrecorded] Removed No “The results revealed 98.9 percent

of infected patients who suffer

with a vitamin D deficiency lost

their lives to COVID-19”

The study referred to was a "preprint"

(not yet peer reviewed), was

subsequently taken down, and did not

make clear how sample was chosen.

https://fullfact.org/health/vitamin-d-

study-flawed/

43 28/07/2020 The

Telegraph

People 6ft have

double risk of

coronavirus

https://ww

w.telegrap

h.co.uk/ne

ws/2020/0

7/28/peopl

e-6ft-

have-

double-

risk-

coronaviru

s-study-

suggests/

Yes People over 6ft have double the

risk of coronavirus - based on

Covid-19 spreading through the

air

There is no proof of this. In the UK

taller men were more likely to report

having had coronavirus but this trend

was the opposite in the US.

https://fullfact.org/health/coronavirus

-tall-people/

44 28/07/2020 The Mirror British men over 6ft

more likely to report

having had

coronavirus, study

claims

https://ww

w.mirror.c

o.uk/scien

ce/people-

who-over-

6ft-tall-

22429492

Headline

changed

People over 6ft have double the

risk of coronavirus - based on

Covid-19 spreading through the

air

There is no proof of this. In the UK

taller men were more likely to report

having had coronavirus but this trend

was the opposite in the US.

https://fullfact.org/health/coronavirus

-tall-people/

Example

No.

Date Publication Headline Link Story remains

accessible?

Claim Reality

45 28/07/2020 The Mail Does being tall raise

the risk of getting

Covid-19? Men over

6ft are Twice as likely

to get infected. study

claims

https://ww

w.dailyma

il.co.uk/ne

ws/article-

8568125/

Men-6ft-

TWICE-

likely-

infected-

Covid-19-

study-

claims.ht

ml

Yes People over 6ft have double the

risk of coronavirus - based on

Covid-19 spreading through the

air

There is no proof of this. In the UK

taller men were more likely to report

having had coronavirus but this trend

was the opposite in the US.

https://fullfact.org/health/coronavirus

-tall-people/

46 20/08/2020 The Star Coronavirus carrier

children ‘silent super-

spreaders’ with high

viral loads, study

finds

https://ww

w.dailysta

r.co.uk/ne

ws/world-

news/coro

navirus-

carrier-

children-

silent-

super-

22550369

Headline

changed

“Coronavirus carrier children

‘silent super-spreaders’ with high

viral loads, study finds.”

This is not proved by this study. It

finds children have a high viral load,

but offers no evidence on

transmission.

https://fullfact.org/health/children-

silent-super-spreaders-coronavirus/

47 20/08/2020 The Mail Children may be

silent super spreaders

of Covid-19 because

they have high viral

loads, a study has

claimed.

https://ww

w.dailyma

il.co.uk/ne

ws/article-

8644059/

Children-

silent-

super-

spreaders-

Covid-19-

scientists-

claim.html

Headline

changed

“Children may be silent super

spreaders of Covid-19 because

they have high viral loads, a study

has claimed.”

This is not proved by this study. It

finds children have a high viral load,

but offers no evidence on

transmission.

https://fullfact.org/health/children-

silent-super-spreaders-coronavirus/

48 20/08/2020 The Mirror Children are ‘silent

super-spreaders’ of

coronavirus, scientists

warn.

https://ww

w.mirror.c

o.uk/scien

ce/childre

n-carry-

higher-

loads-

coronaviru

s-

22546624

Headline

changed

Children are ‘silent super-

spreaders’ of coronavirus,

scientists warn.

This is not proved by this study. It

finds children have a high viral load,

but offers no evidence on

transmission.

https://fullfact.org/health/children-

silent-super-spreaders-coronavirus/

Example

No.

Date Publication Headline Link Story remains

accessible?

Claim Reality

49 29/09/2020 The Sun Pubs and restaurants

caused just 3% of

coronavirus infections

in a week before

10pm curfew

announced

https://ww

w.thesun.c

o.uk/news

/12785233

/coronavir

us-

infections-

uk-pubs-

restaurants

//

Yes “Pubs and restaurants caused less

than 3% of coronavirus infections

in the week before the 10pm

curfew, official data shows.”

This is a misreading of data, which

only covers outbreaks and clusters

where more than one person has or is

suspected to have a respiratory

infection. This data does not

necessarily confirm where a new case

was picked up.

https://fullfact.org/health/its-wrong-

to-say-that-only-3-of-covid-19-cases-

are-caused-by-restaurants-and-pubs/

50 29/09/2020 The

Telegraph

Pubs and restaurants

caused less than 3pc

of infections in the

week before curfew

was announced

https://ww

w.telegrap

h.co.uk/ne

ws/2020/0

9/27/pubs-

restaurants

-caused-

less-3pc-

infections-

week-

curfew-

announced

/

Headline

changed

“Pubs and restaurants caused less

than 3pc of infections in the week

before curfew was announced”

This is a misreading of data, which

only covers outbreaks and clusters

where more than one person has or is

suspected to have a respiratory

infection. This data does not

necessarily confirm where a new

case was picked up.

https://fullfact.org/health/its-wrong-

to-say-that-only-3-of-covid-19-

cases-are-caused-by-restaurants-and-

pubs/

51 19/10/2020 The Metro Death tolls soar ... not

from Covid

https://ww

w.metro.n

ews/35000

0-

referrals-

for-

cancer-

patients-

missed-

since-

march/219

0294/

Yes The number of deaths from

various causes have risen

dramatically.

Data only refers to private homes -

not total deaths, which is in many

cases close to historic averages.

https://fullfact.org/health/non-covid-

deaths-homes/

Example

No.

Date Publication Headline Link Story remains

accessible?

Claim Reality

52 20/10/2020 The

Telegraph

World's first Covid

challenge trial to take

place in London in

January

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/10/2

0/worlds-first-covid-challenge-trial-take-place-london/

Correction

later appended

BAME people would be excluded

from a trial of a new vaccine.

A vaccine was not being trialled.

BAME people were not excluded.

53 16/11/2020 The Mail “Walking your pet

dog may raise your

risk of catching

coronavirus by 78 per

cent”

https://ww

w.dailyma

il.co.uk/ne

ws/article-

8954431/

Do-dogs-

spread-

coronaviru

s-Spanish-

study-

finds-

owners-

78-higher-

risk-

catching-

it.html

Headline

changed

Link between dog-walking and

COVID transmission.

Based on research which has many

flaws. In particular suggestions this

is down to dogs acting as Covid-19

vector are based on limited evidence.

https://fullfact.org/health/dog-risk-

coronavirus/

54 17/11/2020 The Mirror They're known as

'man's best friend' but

if you live with a dog,

you may unknowingly

be increasing your

risk of coronavirus.

https://ww

w.mirror.c

o.uk/scien

ce/corona

virus-dog-

owners-

higher-

risk-

23021899

Headline

changed

Link between dog-walking and

COVID transmission.

Based on research which has many

flaws. In particular suggestions this

is down to dogs acting as Covid-19

vector are based on limited evidence.

https://fullfact.org/health/dog-risk-

coronavirus/

55 20/11/2020 The Mail What they don't tell

you about Covid:

Fewer beds taken up

then last year, deaths

a fraction of the grim

forecasts, 95% of

fatalities had

underlying causes ...

and how the facts can

be twisted to strike

fear in our hearts

https://ww

w.dailyma

il.co.uk/ne

ws/article-

8971669/

What-

DONT-

tell-

Covid-

facts-

twisted-

strike-

fear-

hearts.htm

l

Yes Expert death & infection rate

projections were wrong; data on

deaths.

Inaccuracies in data

(https://fullfact.org/health/mail-

deaths-chart/ ); projections heavily

misrepresented

(https://hackinginquiry.org/mail-

coronavirus-coverage/ )