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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center
SciCheck’s COVID-19/Vaccination Project

Fewer Cases of Flu Due to Pandemic Precautions, Contrary to Viral Claim

Fewer Cases of Flu Due to Pandemic Precautions, Contrary to Viral Claim

Public health organizations have explained that the reason there were far fewer cases of the flu in 2020 and 2021 was likely due to measures adopted to slow the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, such as handwashing and social distancing. But a post on social media has spread the false claim that the dip in flu cases suggests that COVID-19 was a hoax.

Early Data on Omicron

Early Data on Omicron

As many Americans and others around the globe prepare for holiday travel and get-togethers, the omicron variant continues to be a concern. While the available data on transmission, vaccine effectiveness and severity of disease are still preliminary, here’s what we’ve learned so far.

COVID-19 Far More Lethal Than a Cold, Contrary to Suggestion in Viral Video

COVID-19 Far More Lethal Than a Cold, Contrary to Suggestion in Viral Video

COVID-19 has killed more than 805,000 people in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Yet a viral video on social media suggests the disease is the same as a “common cold.” COVID-19 is in the same family of some cold viruses, but its potential for a severe outcome — including death — is much higher than for the common cold.

Post Makes Unfounded Claims About Omicron ‘Symptoms’ and COVID-19 Vaccines

Post Makes Unfounded Claims About Omicron ‘Symptoms’ and COVID-19 Vaccines

Scientists are still learning about the omicron variant’s ability to spread or cause severe illness and the effectiveness of the current COVID-19 vaccines in fighting it. But a Facebook post misleadingly claims to list seven “symptoms” of the new variant, then suggests they are caused by the vaccines. The list actually refers to complications of COVID-19. Two of the listed conditions are rare adverse events associated with the vaccines.

Posts Misrepresent Data to Falsely Claim Italy Reduced Its COVID-19 Death Count

Posts Misrepresent Data to Falsely Claim Italy Reduced Its COVID-19 Death Count

The vast majority of people who have died with COVID-19 had other medical conditions that put them at risk of severe disease, or other conditions caused by COVID-19. But internet posts misinterpret data about those conditions to falsely claim that Italy has reduced its count of COVID-19 deaths. It hasn’t.

DeSantis, Social Media Posts Mislead on COVID-19’s Toll in Florida

DeSantis, Social Media Posts Mislead on COVID-19’s Toll in Florida

Florida’s total COVID-19 case rate is higher than the national rate and 10th highest in the U.S. But social media posts and the state’s governor point to a recent decline in daily cases as evidence of Florida’s success in handling COVID-19, while ignoring the full impact of the pandemic’s toll on the state.

Hospitals Overwhelmed by Another Surge of COVID-19 Patients, Financial Strain

Hospitals Overwhelmed by Another Surge of COVID-19 Patients, Financial Strain

The seven-day average of COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S. has increased by 322% in two months, straining the ability of medical staff in some states to care for patients. Despite the rising numbers, an Instagram post questioned whether COVID-19 is “truly a pandemic that was ‘overwhelming hospitals,'” if hospitals are firing nurses who refuse to be vaccinated.

Flawed Variant Information Fuels Baseless COVID-19 Theory

Flawed Variant Information Fuels Baseless COVID-19 Theory

A conspiracy theory online baselessly suggests that the World Health Organization and other groups preplanned the variants of the novel coronavirus — citing a dubious timeline. But the timeline doesn’t square with the reality of when variants have been identified and designated thus far.

Meme Trumpets Falsehood About Delta Variant

Meme Trumpets Falsehood About Delta Variant

The delta variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 spreads more quickly than the original virus and has been classified as a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization. It is now the dominant variant in the U.S. But a meme has been circulating on Facebook falsely claiming the delta variant is “fake news.”

Websites and Social Posts Misrepresent CDC Director’s Comments on Breakthrough Deaths

Websites and Social Posts Misrepresent CDC Director’s Comments on Breakthrough Deaths

In a May 16 interview, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director said the agency knew of 223 breakthrough fatalities among fully vaccinated individuals, but “not all … died of COVID.” That is not an admission that “many, many hospitals” previously “overcounted” COVID-19 deaths, as conservative websites have reported.