Some good news on the COVID-19 front? We fact-checked 10 positive coronavirus claims.
Article by: Some good news on the COVID-19 front? We fact-checked 10 positive coronavirus claims. - Poynter
1. China closing coronavirus hospital
The first claim is that China was able to close down its last emergency temporary coronavirus hospital as the number of new cases has diminished.
2. Coronavirus vaccine testing begins in Seattle
The post also claims that testing has begun in Seattle to develop a vaccine, “as healthy volunteer gets first shot”. There has been a lot of news going around about developing a possible vaccine for COVID-19, including a story we fact-checked here.
3. Erasmus Medical Center has found an antibody?
The next claim states that researchers at Erasmus Medical Center have found an antibody that can fight against the coronavirus.
4. 103-year-old Chinese grandmother made a full recovery from COVID-19
The next claim is about a 103-year-old Chinese grandmother making a full recovery from COVID-19 after being treated for six days in a Wuhan hospital. If true, this would be especially significant because older populations have been more vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19.
5. Patients in New Delhi and Jaipur, India, have been treated and cured
Next, the post states “Patients in New Delhi and Jaipur, India, have been successfully treated and cured. They include a 69-and 85-year-old.” Off the bat, I was suspicious. As we mentioned in earlier fact checks — as of this writing, there is no vaccine or cure. Doctors try their best to manage symptoms as the virus runs its course.
6. Apple reopens all 42 China stores
7. Cleveland Clinic opens on-site rapid testing
According to the post, the Cleveland Clinic now offers on-site rapid testing that often gets results back within a day.
8. South Korea cases declining
The next claim talks about how the situation is getting better in South Korea.
I wanted to make sure I was getting reliable data, so I went to the World Health Organization for the most up-to-date information. This post was published on March 18, so when I started looking, I wanted to make sure I was looking at the right timeline.
9. Why Italy was hit so hard
The post claims Italy has been hard-hit by the effects of the coronavirus because its population is the oldest in Europe, according to experts.
10. Israel developed a new vaccine?
The last claim on this list claims that Israeli scientists will most likely announce the development of a vaccine, as well as a company in San Diego working with other labs around the country. The post does note that it won’t be available right away. I hadn’t heard anything about that when I was doing earlier research about possible vaccines, but it would be great if it was true!