FACT CHECK

Fact check: What's true about COVID-19, its vaccine, face masks and seasonal flu?

USA TODAY

The USA TODAY Fact Check team is dedicated to verifying claims and fighting misinformation. Here's a list of recent fact-checks related to coronavirus:

Where did coronavirus originate?

Coronavirus originated in China, not elsewhere, researchers and studies say, published March 16
Did the coronavirus originate in a Chinese laboratory?, published March 22
US government did not engineer COVID-19, published June 29
COVID-19 stands for 'coronavirus disease 2019,' published Dec. 30

On coronavirus vaccines

Pfizer recived COVID-19 vaccine data after Election Day, released within days, published Nov. 18
COVID-19 vaccine recommendations don't link government aid to immunization, published Nov. 19
Dolly Parton helped fund Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine research, published Nov. 21
Moderna vaccine funded by government spending, with notable private donation, published Nov. 24
Operation Warp Speed official discussed vaccine distribution, not mandatory vaccinations, published Nov. 24
Obama, Bush and Clinton would publicly get vaccinated to boost confidence, published Dec. 4
Posts falsely claim first vaccine recipients in the UK are 'crisis actors', published Dec. 10
A false post on social media claims COVID-19 vaccine causes infertility in women, published Dec. 14
Bell's palsy among COVID-19 trial participants likely unrelated to Pfizer vaccine, published Dec. 15
Syringes with RFID technology track vaccines, not recipients, published Dec. 16
Thalidomide, COVID-19 vaccine comparisons are misleading, published Dec. 17
Posts falsely claim cap was on Nancy Pelosi's COVID-19 vaccine, published Dec. 19
Employers can require that workers get the COVID-19 vaccine, published Dec. 22
Nurse who fainted after COVID-19 shot is alive and well, published Dec. 23
Post uses 2019 image to make false COVID-19 vaccine claim, published Dec. 27
Pregnant women get vaccines; study needed on COVID-19 shot, published Dec. 29
Bill Gates, Pfizer CEO plan to take COVID-19 vaccine, published Dec. 29
Post falsely links Bill and Melinda Gates, Wuhan lab, Moderna, published Dec. 30
Wuhan lab, vaccine research affiliates not linked, published Dec. 30
US law allows companies to mandate COVID-19 vaccines, published Dec. 31
DC law allows minors over age 11 to consent to vaccines, published Jan. 7
Vaccination helped eliminate smallpox, not herd immunity, published Jan. 13
Health and Human Services' Brett Giroir confirms vaccine distribution is tracked to ensure dosing, published Jan. 19
The vaccine for COVID-19 has been nearly 20 years in the making, published Jan. 21
Not likely that COVID-19 vaccine was cause of Hank Aaron's death, published Jan. 27
Merck discontinues COVID-19 vaccine work over weak immune response, published Jan. 28
No evidence for false claims on vaccine 'warning label', published Jan. 29

On COVID-19 versus seasonal flu

Getting a flu shot doesn't make you more (or less) likely to get coronavirus, published April 1
CDC did not add flu and pneumonia cases to its COVID-19 death count, published June 28
COVID-19 is deadlier than the 1918 Spanish flu and seasonal influenza, published Aug. 20
Doctors aren't pushing an 'untested' seasonal flu vaccine for the coronavirus, published Sept. 19
A cold, the flu or a flu shot won't cause positive tests for novel coronavirus, published Nov. 29
COVID-19 is far worse than the influenza outbreaks of 1976, as meme claims, published Dec. 18
Flu activity is low so far, likely because of pandemic precautions, published Dec. 19
Post claims COVID-19 is another flu strain, misattributed to Cornell professor, published Jan. 5

On coronavirus symptoms, preventions, treatments

Coronavirus myths, debunked: A cattle vaccine, bioweapons and a $3,000 test, published March 6
Is COVID-19 caused by human consumption of animals? published March 18
Does using ibuprofen make coronavirus symptoms worse?, published March 19
Does drinking alcohol minimize my coronavirus risk? published March 20
No, hand sanitizer won't harm your pets if they lick your hand after you use it, published March 20
Will holding your breath for 10 seconds reveal if you have coronavirus? published March 22
Pets will not catch and spread the coronavirus to their owners, published March 25
Could your December cough have been coronavirus?, published March 26
Sun, UV light does not kill coronavirus, published March 30
Getting a flu shot doesn't make you more (or less) likely to get coronavirus, published April 1
Your blood type does not make you more susceptible to coronavirus, published April 1
Is pinkeye a symptom of COVID-19? published April 9
Is 5G related to coronavirus? published April 23
Can coronavirus be spread by farts? published April 23
Are foot sores a symptom of COVID-19? published April 24
Vitamins C and D are not used in 'conventional treatment' of coronavirus, published May 2
COVID-19 UV light treatment is being studied — not yet in use — in Los Angeles, published May 2
Vitamins C and D are not used in 'conventional treatment' of coronavirus, published May 2
Are smokers at less risk for contracting the coronavirus?, published May 3
An alkaline diet won't kill the coronavirus, published May 7
Price didn't drive promotion of remdesivir over hydroxychloroquine, published May 9
No, you should not be wearing gloves in public, published May 13
Regular exercise does not weaken the immune system, published May 14
No, N95 filters are not too large to stop COVID-19 particles, published June 11
'Thousands' of doctors have not said hydroxychloroquine cures COVID-19, published June 11
Leaving raw onions around your house won’t prevent illnesses, published June 16
Doctors study whether COVID-19 could trigger diabetes, published June 27
While vaccines contain human DNA, there is no link to cancer, autism, published July 2
Common cold does not produce positive coronavirus test, published July 3
Discharge document from medical center is outdated, published July 3
No, the COVID-19 nasal test doesn't swab the blood-brain barrier, published July 8
Though nasal test for COVID-19 swabs deep into the nose, nothing is implanted, published July 11
Hydroxychloroquine has not worked in treating COVID-19, studies show, published July 21
Expanded COVID-19 testing shows more cases, doesn't cause high positivity rate, published July 28
Low body fat, healthy lifestyle do not prevent COVID-19, published, published July 30
More studies needed to examine link between fermented foods, COVID-19, published Sept. 1
Doctors aren't pushing an 'untested' seasonal flu vaccine for the coronavirus, published Sept. 19
Trump's antibody therapy not made from fetal stem cells but fetal-derived cells used during testing, published Oct. 8
Melatonin could help against COVID-19, but more studies are needed, published Nov. 24
Experts caution mouthwash's effect on COVID-19 needs more study, published Nov. 25
A cold, the flu or a flu shot won't cause positive tests for novel coronavirus, published Nov. 29
More than 40 patients receiving treatment in converted hospital parking garage, published Dec. 2
COVID-19 tests are not compiling people's DNA, published Dec. 10
COVID-19 tests are real, masks work, despite false claims to the contrary, published Dec. 15
More study needed on link between vitamin D deficiency, COVID-19 mortality, published Dec. 16
Burnt oranges, brown sugar won't restore senses lost to COVID-19, published Dec. 27
Improper use of COVID-19 test gives false positive for Coca-Cola, published Dec. 30
Doctors say COVID-19 test unlikely to cause pink eye, published Jan. 8
COVID-19 can cause worse lung damage than smoking, published Jan. 28

On face masks and other face coverings

Disposable masks should be worn colored-side out, published April 15
Face masks do not weaken the immune system, published May 8
Face masks can be unsafe for children under 2, but not for most adults, published May 24
It is not a felony for Virginia concealed-carry permit holders to wear masks, published June 7
Ear loop masks — even homemade cloth masks — offer protection against COVID-19, published June 16
Masks are effective against COVID-19; OSHA doesn't say they offer no protection, published June 27
Claim that Democratic leaders aren’t using masks is based on old picture, published July 9
ADA does not provide blanket exemption from face mask requirements, published July 15
No mask? You can ask why — it isn’t against HIPAA or the Fourth or Fifth Amendments, published July 19
Gov. Whitmer did not encourage violence against Michiganders not wearing masks, published July 19
New England journal article taken out of context, didn't bash face masks, published July 22
Cleveland Clinic never told employees cloth face masks 'don't work', published Aug. 1
Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not create religion-based exemption from mask mandates, published Aug. 6
Masks can keep out COVID-19 particles even though smaller than dry wall dust, published Aug. 9
Mask-wearing not connected to child trafficking. published Aug. 11
Masks are effective in stopping the coronavirus, published Aug. 21
Photos of Biden, Harris, Whitmer and Booker without masks are from early March, published Aug. 21
Cloth masks ineffective against wildfire smoke, still slow spread of COVID-19, published Sept. 15
Staph infections are common and aren't caused by face masks, published Sept. 18
CDC report doesn't show mask-wearers are more likely to contract COVID-19, published Oct. 15
Article falsely claims studies signal CDC admission that masks don't work, published Dec. 2
COVID-19 tests are real, masks work, despite false claims to the contrary, published Dec. 15
WHO recommends mask-wearing to prevent COVID-19 spread, published Jan. 30

On federal and state government response to coronavirus

Can Trump use the Stafford Act to order a national, mandatory 2-week quarantine?, published March 19
Did CNN's Dana Bash praise President Donald Trump on coronavirus?, published March 20
Did New Orleans mayor's order allow ban on gun sales?, published March 21
Were elderly Italians left to die? And is socialized health care to blame?, published March 20
Did Florida county commissioner propose a blow dryer cure for coronavirus?, published March 24
Is the U.S. doing more coronavirus testing more than South Korea?, published March 25
Not true that no Democrats voted for coronavirus stimulus package, published March 25
U.S. House did not give itself a pay raise as part of a coronavirus relief bill, published March 29
NY did not pass on buying ventilators to fund tuition for undocumented immigrants, published March 31
Does NY have a stockpile of unneeded ventilators? No. Published April 1
Memphis did not ban sale of alcohol and tobacco. Published April 1
Did Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson say US should return to work? Published April 1
Did the Obama administration deplete the federal stockpile of N95 masks? published April 4
Is Oregon ordering social distancing through September? published April 6
Yes, Texas' governor has deemed religious services essential amid pandemic, published April 8
Did a Democratic lawmaker in Michigan credit Trump for her COVID-19 recovery? published April 8
Did Wisconsin legislator Robin Vos have more protective gear at polls? published April 10
President Trump versus the WHO, published April 11
NYC is not planning to use trenches in parks as burial grounds, published April 11
Did Kentucky order police to record the license plates of Easter churchgoers? published April 13
Did Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ban the sale of American flags, plants and seeds?, published April 15
Could undocumented immigrants get stimulus checks? published April 23
Do hospitals get paid more from Medicare for COVID-19 patients? published April 27
NY legislators did not give themselves a raise amid COVID-19 crisis, published May 1
Are governors' stay-at-home orders bad for your health? published May 2
Will Florida order residents to get vaccinated for COVID-19?, published May 2
Obama administration did not send $3.7 million to Wuhan lab, published May 4
Kansas City did not require churches to turn over membership lists, published May 6
Pelosi does not oppose remote voting for House, published May 6
No evidence Virginia's testing methodology may significantly delay reopening, published May 7
Are churches in Illinois closed for a year?, published May 7
Lawyer in Pa. election suit is not 'Hillary Clinton's lawyer', published May 8
The Supreme Court did not deem social distancing unconstitutional in 1866, published May 9
San Francisco providing drugs, alcohol to quarantining homeless but not on taxpayers' dime, published May 13
Under TRACE Act, cellphones will not be updated with ‘COVID-19 traceability', published May 17
Did the House add a recess provision to stimulus bill?, published May 17
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers isn't seeking additional 9-month shutdown, published May 19
No evidence Virginia's testing methodology may significantly delay reopening, published May 19
Flyers to Florida from hard-hit Tri-State area must fill out airport traveler form, published May 20
Coronavirus volunteer health workers will be expected to pay N.Y. state taxes, published May 21
Are drive-by celebrations in New Jersey illegal?, published May 21
CDC's guidelines for reopening schools are recommendations, not rules, published May 22
No, Wisconsin did not get $0 in small business coronavirus relief funds, published May 24
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers will not spark car fires, published May 26
Fake letter circulating on Facebook quickly debunked by California agency, published June 3
Feds buy syringes that may have RFID chips, but no evidence COVID-19 vaccination required, published June 4
CDC's estimates COVID-19 death rate around 0.26%, doesn't confirm it, published June 5
Cost of COVID-19 testing is complicated, varies by patient, published June 9
Stay-at-home and other state emergency orders are not unlawful, published June 11
No, Colorado bill does not mandate all students get vaccines without exception, published June 23
US government sent ventilators to Navajo Nation, despite claims otherwise, published June 27
Verifying President Donald Trump's alleged failures in office, published June 28
CDC did not add flu and pneumonia cases to its COVID-19 death count, published June 28
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis backs new 'intensive care' definitions for COVID-19, published July 9
No, schools will not require a COVID-19 vaccine, with RFID chip, for students, published July 10
A fake tweet claims AOC urged governors to shut down businesses to hurt Trump, published July 14
DeVos never said 'only' 0.02% of children will die if schools reopen in the fall, published July 14
ADA does not provide blanket exemption from face mask requirements, published July 15
No mask? You can ask why — it isn’t against HIPAA or the Fourth or Fifth Amendments, published July 19
Gov. Whitmer did not encourage violence against Michiganders not wearing masks, published July 19
Fauci didn't advocate for dispensing vaccines without studying them first, published July 22
Nations beating back COVID-19 are female-led, but it's more complicated than just gender, published July 28
Chicago Public Schools requires COVID-19 waiver for summer sports, not classes, published July 29
Illinois governor didn't scheme to give 'politician buddies' raises amid pandemic, published Aug. 1
Quarantine 'camps' are real, but COVID-19 camp claim stretches truth, published Aug. 9
Expanded federal paid leave benefits may be available to parents for e-learning, published Aug. 13
Fauci did not approve hydroxychloroquine as a cure for coronaviruses in 2005, published Aug. 19
Governors, president both responsible for pandemic response, published Aug. 19
Congress not specially exempt from DC COVID-19 orders to attend Lewis funeral. published Aug. 21
'Plandemic II' alleges false conspiracy theory involving CDC, NIH; pandemic not planned. published Aug. 23
CDC's data on COVID-19 deaths used incorrectly in misleading claims, published Sept. 1
White House didn't fire pandemic response unit when it was disbanded in 2018, published Sept. 10
Religious organizations received COVID-related loans but US Postal Service did too, published Sept. 16
Oklahoma Department of Health did not plan a 'spike' in COVID-19 cases, published Sept. 26
Nashville mayor did not hide COVID-19 stats, emails taken out-of-context, published Sept. 30
Cuomo comment about COVID-19 vaccine timing being 'bad news' lacks context published Nov. 15
Article wrongly states Biden COVID-19 adviser's view on vaccine, age, published Nov. 25
Politicians on both sides of the aisle have flouted COVID-19 guidelines, published Dec. 1
Post falsely claims CDC offers COVID-19 quarantine delivery service, published Dec. 15
DC's COVID-19 surge prompts closures through mid-January, published Jan. 2
'Rockefeller Playbook' and 'Operation Lockstep' are hoaxes, published Jan. 14

On pandemics

Why is the 1918 influenza pandemic called the "Spanish flu"?, published March 23
Did Bill Gates predict the coronavirus in 2015?, published March 22
A Bill Gates-backed pandemic simulation did not predict COVID-19, published March 26
Bill Gates, foundation did not fund patent for coronavirus, published March 27
Did second wave of Spanish flu kill 20 million? published April 25
The super rich did indeed get richer in early weeks of coronavirus pandemic, published May 7
Dr. Anthony Fauci, Bill Gates won't profit from drug remdesivir, published May 14
China doesn't own patent for coronavirus treatment remdesivir, published May 15
Bill Gates did not craft contact tracing bill, published May 26
1981 Old Farmer's Almanac didn't predict coronavirus pandemic, published May 25
The 1981 Dean Koontz book ‘The Eyes of Darkness’ did not predict COVID-19, published June 2
Comparison of COVID-19 case data based on state politics is wrong, published June 5
Philadelphia ended lockdown early during 1918 flu and saw major spike in cases. published June 9
Bill Gates is not planning to microchip the world through a COVID-19 vaccine, published June 12
Melinda Gates didn't exactly say Black people 'must' be vaccinated for COVID-19, published June 13
Google did not automatically sign up Android users for COVID-19 tracing app, published June 14
Conspiracy claims linking COVID-19 reports with the number 322 are nonsense, published June 16
Can dogs ‘sniff out’ coronavirus? Researchers are trying to find out, published June 17
No, 2011 'Captain America' film did not predict the coronavirus pandemic, published June 21
There is no universal pandemic trajectory; COVID-19 may not have worse 2nd wave, published June 30
C.S. Lewis didn't write 'so many souls' quote tied in post to COVID-19 actions, published June 30
These 11 CEOs stepped down during COVID-19 pandemic, published July 12
Post makes faulty assertions about women and face coverings in Muslim-majority countries, published July 19
COVID-19 not falling below 'epidemic threshold' in near future, published July 22
Claims about Canada's pandemic relief package are only partially correct, published July 24
Document claiming to show CDC guidance about various types of masks is a fake, published July 27
Fauci warned Trump administration in 2017 of surprise infectious disease outbreak, published July 29
Black nurses helped save Philadelphia during a 1793 epidemic, published July 21
Americans won’t have microchips implanted by end of 2020, published Aug. 1
Viral post claiming Dems didn't wear masks at John Lewis' funeral uses photo from 2015, published Aug. 11
2009 swine flu spread rapidly, but COVID-19 is more deadly, published Aug. 13
COVID-19 is deadlier than the 1918 Spanish flu and seasonal influenza, published Aug. 20
Disease outbreaks don't occur just in U.S. major election years, published Aug. 21
'Plandemic' sequel makes false claims about Bill Gates, published Aug. 25
Tuberculosis is more dangerous than COVID-19, but context matters, published Aug. 30
Acronym 'COVID-19' has nothing to do with vaccination certificates or AI, published Sept. 11
Moderna post makes false claims about Fauci, Gates, Soros, Epstein, published Sept. 11
COVID-19 is still a pandemic, even if CDC site calls it an 'outbreak', published Sept. 18
False claim that Dr. Anthony Fauci arrested uses doctored and out of context photos, published Sept. 22
Claim of double standards between COVID-19, swine flu responses is inaccurate, Sept. 28
Satirical post falsely claims COVID-19 is no worse than the flu and affects virtually no one, published Oct. 7
Viral post that claims COVID-19 is a fraud cites no evidence, published Oct. 8
Alex Jones' claims about Trump's COVID-19 treatments, 'deep state' are false, published Oct. 11
Chance of an asteroid hitting Earth on Nov. 2 is not higher than dying of COVID-19, published Oct. 16
Dr. Anthony Fauci is not the author of a viral Facebook post on viruses, published Oct. 30
Dr. Anthony Fauci did not say masks contributed to Spanish flu deaths, published Nov. 12
Photo shows doctor hug 'lonely' coronavirus patient on Thanksgiving, published Nov. 30
Strict lockdowns, experimental vaccine helped China recover from COVID-19, published Dec. 4
List of 'deadliest days in American history' is partly false, published Dec. 12
COVID-19 pandemic is not a simulation, published Dec. 23
The Will Smith movie 'I Am Legend' was set in 2012, not 2021, published Jan. 14
COVID-19 outbreak at NY during home started before vaccinations, published Jan. 16

On coronavirus impacts

COVID-19 crisis has not created decreased long-term human environmental impact, published March 25
Are coronavirus patients dying alone in hospitals? published April 9
Farmers are dumping milk because of change in demand, bottling limitations, published April 10
Black people being targeted in Guangzhou, China, over COVID-19 fears, published April 16
No, homeless people are not immune from catching COVID-19, published May 2
Black people make up disproportionate share of COVID-19 deaths in Richmond, Virginia, published May 5
Did heroin overdoses kill more Americans than the coronavirus in mid-March?, published May 13
Payments to dairy farmers drop even as retail milk prices rise, published May 15
How many meatpackers and health care workers have tested positive for COVID-19?, published May 18
Kroger did ask employees to return overpayment of wages, then backed off, published May 20
Cattle farmers are paid less, consumers pay more amid beef shortage, published June 5
Facebook post paints too rosy of a picture for coronavirus impact on Ohio, published July 13
South Dakota's COVID-19 infection, jobless stats aren't as good as claimed, published July 25
Dr Pepper shortage? No. But aluminum can shortage may be behind lack of supply, published Aug. 5
U.S. GDP drop in 2020's second quarter is the worst in modern history, published Aug. 8
Payroll taxes cut by executive action must be paid back, published Sept. 7
Post online misstates Sturgis Rally's coronavirus cases, published Sept. 17
Several politicians have died or resigned because of COVID-19, published Sept. 25
No evidence mask wearers are arriving in ICUs with pneumonia, published Nov. 12
US COVID-19 deaths from Dec. 1-5 rival the toll from the Pearl Harbor attack, published Dec. 10
2020 has been more deadly than recent years in U.S., published Dec. 24
The U.S. saw more deaths in 2020 than in 2019, published Jan. 8

On living through the coronavirus pandemic

No, Costco did not recall its Kirkland Signature toilet tissue, published March 26
No, eating morel mushrooms will not make you more susceptible to coronavirus, March 26
Coronavirus does not spread quickly via gas pumps, published March 28
Cities have not been having COVID-19 rallies — photos are fake. Published April 1
Avoid grocery shopping during the first 3 days of the month to give WIC recipients space?, published April 2
Under the CARES Act, some unemployed Americans will make $24 an hour, not all, published April 13
Are Spring Valley vitamins made in China?, published May 21
It's true, Clorox Splash-Less bleach does not disinfect surfaces, published June 10
Yes, there's a national coin shortage. Here's why, published July 21
Walmart is not banning cash from its stores, despite national coin shortage, published July 27
A cashless society isn't imminent and wouldn't mean total end of cash, published July 27
Some — not all — hair salons in California will open in protest on Aug. 17, published Aug. 15
Masks in the shower? Fake flyer starts Indiana University rumor, published Sept. 4
Mastercard's partnership on vaccination records is unrelated to finances, published Sept. 9
Too many factors involved to say teachers are safer in class than at Walmart, published Sept. 13
No US law requires businesses to take cash, but local laws may mandate it, published Sept. 16
Masks won't give you lung cancer; some masks do include chemicals, published Nov. 16
Fake tweet suggests shoplifting to prevent COVID-19 spread, published Dec. 23

This list will be updated regularly. Be sure to check back for the latest fact-checks on the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.