These Are the Worst Fake News Stories Circulating About the Coronavirus

Esquire Magazine ^ | 02/01/2020 | Mario Alvaro Limos

[SeekAndFind]

It seems that the world is fighting two fronts on the spread of the novel coronavirus: On the medical front and the misinformation front, which could lead to more people getting infected. A disturbing number of people already think that you get coronavirus by drinking Corona Beer.

We could all use a little less fear-mongering and fake news about the deadly virus, but some information is so convincing they seem true. Below are some of the misinformation being circulated on social media. 

 

1|  Gargling salt water can help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

It might alleviate halitosis to some extent, but rinsing your mouth with salt water does not prevent infection from any outbreak.

According to the purveyors of the false information, the salt would kill viruses and bacteria entering or leaving your mouth. This is untrue. The novel coronavirus is a respiratory disease that affects the upper respiratory system (and therefore thrives in the lungs, not in the mouth). The World Health Organization said saline solution does not help in protecting against the disease.

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2|  Coronavirus Hospital in Wuhan, China was built in two days.

A post circulating on Facebook claims China built a hospital dedicated to treating patients infected with the coronavirus in two days. This is false. The image of the hospital complex is a stock photo from a year ago. When Agence France-Presse (AFP) visited the site, it found the hospital is still under construction.

 

3|  The coronavirus was a government experiment

This conspiracy theory alleges that the novel coronavirus was created by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the U.S. The theory does not explain why the virus spread in China.

According to the conspiracy theory circulating on Facebook, the CDC patented the disease. However, upon further investigation, the Inquirer reports that the patents are for vaccines and other drugs made to combat various strains of coronavirus.

 

4|  Doctors in Wuhan are projecting millions will be killed by the coronavirus.

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There is no such projection made by any doctor in China.

 

5|  A video of a Wuhan market shows the origin of the virus.

A circulating video on Facebook shows a marketplace in Wuhan where the novel coronavirus purportedly originated. In the video, various wild and exotic animals such as rats, bats, and snakes are being sold. The video was not shot in China, but is AFP footage of the Langowan market in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province.

[House Atreides]

A disturbing number of people already think that you get coronavirus by drinking Corona Beer.
****************************************
You don’t? ;-)

[Nascar Dad]

Hoax.

[SeekAndFind]

This is from CNET

How to spot legit info vs. falsified reports

If you see reports that seem extreme, look suspicious or come from an unfamiliar source, it's important to take time to evaluate the information before you share or buy into it. You should also report the information to the appropriate person (like the platform you found the post on).

Facebook has a resource page on how to spot fake news reports or posts that are circulating on the internet. Some of its tips include being careful to evaluate headlines that look extreme or have exclamation points, check for tampered dates or images that look altered and try to cross-verify the news with several other major news outlets. Here's how to report a post on Facebook.

The News Literacy Project is another helpful resource, as is this guide from Stony Brook University. If you spot any news reports or posts that you suspect are fake, it's important to report them and not to share them.

Another fantastic fact-checking resource is Snopes.com, which has been providing routine updates on some of the more fanciful claims emanating from the web so far. Worth checking out if a claim seems too good to be true.

[null and void]

I think #1 only works with Blessed Dead Sea Salt™ </sarcasm>

Bring Out Your Dead

Post to me or FReep mail to be on/off the Bring Out Your Dead ping list.

The purpose of the “Bring Out Your Dead” ping list (formerly the “Ebola” ping list) is very early warning of emerging pandemics, as such it has a high false positive rate.

So far the false positive rate is 100%.

At some point we may well have a high mortality pandemic, and likely as not the “Bring Out Your Dead” threads will miss the beginning entirely.

*sigh* Such is life, and death...

If a quarantine saves just one child's life, it's worth it.

[Cicero]

[JBW1949]

https://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2020/02/24/overhyped-coronavirus-weaponized-against-trump/

[BenLurkin]

Snopes?

Nopes!

[datura]

Rush says it’s just the common cold.

On this, he’s full of it.

[samtheman]

I heard #3 before, never heard the others.

[JBW1949]

Rush doesn’t miss very much....

[mykroar]

3| The coronavirus was a government experiment This conspiracy theory alleges that the novel coronavirus was created by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the U.S. The theory does not explain why the virus spread in China. According to the conspiracy theory circulating on Facebook, the CDC patented the disease. However, upon further investigation, the Inquirer reports that the patents are for vaccines and other drugs made to combat various strains of coronavirus.

Haven't heard that one. I notice they don't mention the fact that it could be a Chinese bioweapon that got away.....

[allendale]

There is much nonsense out there regarding COVID-19. However Esquire magazine has been a repository of outright garbage for years.

[Pollard]

I’ve heard an alternative version of #3 which is that a biolab in China created it. Haven’t heard the other and I’ve been reading most #COVID19 tweets. Must be facebook carp. That’s where the gullible one hang out and the pranksters know it.

Jeopardy question

The mild medical condition you have the morning after drinking too many Corona beers the night before.

What is CoronaVirus

You now people are gonna use that.

When I see my Busch beer drinking friend with a hangover, I say, The Mountains win again.

[JBW1949]

Read the link on post #7...

[Carriage Hill]

[DoughtyOne]

COVID-19 Spreadsheet using JHU data

File XLSX

File XLS

[lilypad]

If we had not been subjected to two major hoaxes in the last few years perhaps we wouldn’t be so skeptical .

[sauropod]

.

[SunkenCiv]

A circulating video on Facebook shows a marketplace in Wuhan where the novel coronavirus purportedly originated. In the video, various wild and exotic animals such as rats, bats, and snakes are being sold. The video was not shot in China, but is AFP footage of the Langowan market in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province.