Health
Ordinary face masks are not harmful
Mask wearing is not harmful for most people, apart from rare instances involving tight-fitting N95 respirators. Read
Fact checks
Covid-19 fact checks
This page brings together Full Fact’s fact checks on Covid-19, covering common claims, vaccine safety and efficacy, symptoms, treatments, government policies, and misinformation. We review evidence, correct errors, and monitor evolving science to help you make informed decisions.
A baseless paper that linked skin cells, 5G and coronavirus has been retracted
The paper made claims about how 5G waves could be absorbed by skin cells and produce coronavirus but provided no credible evidence. Read
Fact checks
Facebook post on lockdown rule changes are right for certain parts of England
As of 31 July, the lockdown rules changed for people in Greater Manchester and parts of Lancashire and West Yorkshire. Read
Fact checks
Health
Viral Facebook post incorrectly claims that a list of PPE contracts are all unfulfilled
PPE procurement is under scrutiny but claims that all these contracts were unfulfilled is not evidenced. Read
Fact checks
Health
The BBC did not say that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is planning to put microchips in Covid-19 vaccines
The article in question is a speculative article on the future of travel and does not mention microchips. Read
Fact checks
Health
The evidence shows surgical masks do offer protection from Covid-19
A viral video claims surgical masks are “no good” as they don’t offer complete protection to the wearer. Evidence shows masks still have benefits. Read
Fact checks
Health
Washing your glasses with soap can help prevent fogging when wearing a mask
The soap disrupts the surface tension which causes the fogging. Read
Fact checks
Misleading claims on pre-existing conditions and Covid-19 deaths go viral
A Facebook post makes a false claim about the Covid-19 death rate. Read
Fact checks
Surgical masks may offer some protection to the wearer from Covid-19 and may stop them from infecting others
Masks may offer some limited protection to the wearer and are likely to protect others if the wearer is infectious. Read
Fact checks
Health
It’s not true that employees who have to quarantine cannot be ‘penalised’
Dominic Raab wrongly claimed people cannot be ‘penalised’ by employers if they have to quarantine after being abroad. Read
Fact checks
