Health
Why conspiracists are linking the Omicron variant to the Illuminati
Some dubious linguistics are being used to link the extinct secret society to the new Covid-19 variant. Read
Fact checks
Abbas Panjwani
Fact Checker (former)
Abbas joined Full Fact in 2018. Before this, he worked as a social researcher, collecting quantitative and qualitative research to help inform policy development and evaluation for government departments and other public bodies. Most recently he worked as research manager at Ofgem, Great Britain’s energy regulator, and has also worked on projects for BIS, the Home Office and the Competition and Markets Authority.
Health
Facebook posts falsely advertise weight loss pills as endorsed by judges on US Dragons’ Den
Weight loss pills have never featured on the US show Shark Tank, where entrepreneurs pitch their products to investors. Read
Fact checks
Economy, Business & Finance
Express vastly overstates impact of UK trade deals
The Express suggested that post-Brexit trade deals will deliver a £766 billion boost. This figure refers to the total value of trade between the UK and countries it has agreed trade deals with. Read
Fact checks
Health
Figures in viral mask graphic aren’t substantiated
A graphic showing the risk of Covid-19 transmission between people wearing and not wearing masks contains figures which haven’t been evidenced. Read
Fact checks
Health
Covid-19 vaccines don’t cause ‘a form of AIDS’
An article online makes the false claim the Covid-19 vaccines cause AIDS. Read
Fact checks
Health
Concerns raised about legitimacy of research linking vaccines and heart attacks
It’s been claimed new research shows a link between Covid-19 vaccines and heart attacks. The research has serious flaws. Read
Fact checks
Economy, Business & Finance
Numbers ‘in work’ not yet back to pre-pandemic levels
At PMQs the Prime Minister claimed the number of people in work had returned to pre-pandemic levels. This is true only for payrolled employees, not all workers. Read
Fact checks
Health
Vaccines don’t cause Covid-19
There are various reasons why Covid case rates may be higher in countries with higher vaccination rates. It isn’t evidence vaccines cause Covid. Read
Fact checks
Health
The holes in face masks don’t mean they’re useless
Various studies have shown the effect of face masks on reducing the risk of viral infection. Read
Fact checks
Health
Test and Trace money didn’t all go to one company
The entire budget for the first year of Test and Trace was £22 billion, and the £13.5 billion spent went to a number of public and private organisations. Read
Fact checks
