Sebastian Leck
FACT CHECK: Did Sweden avoid a lockdown to pursue a “herd immunity” strategy?
MISLEADING. Sweden did impose some restrictions, although they were far less strict than neighbouring countries.
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Sebastian Leck
- Sep 25, 2020
- 3 min
FACT CHECK: Is Health Canada refusing to approve rapid saliva-based tests for COVID-19?
MISLEADING. Health Canada told the Globe and Mail in August that they would not consider home tests, but then reversed their position.
Sebastian Leck
- Sep 17, 2020
- 2 min
FACT CHECK: Are children less likely to transmit COVID-19 than adults?
While fewer children have been infected by COVID-19, it’s no longer clear how likely they are to spread COVID-19.
Sebastian Leck
- Sep 10, 2020
- 2 min
FACT CHECK: Does a new COVID-19-related syndrome pose a risk to children?
MOSTLY TRUE. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome can lead to heart damage if it is left untreated, but the long-term outcomes are unknown.
Sebastian Leck
- Sep 4, 2020
- 2 min
FACT CHECK: Are masks with valves less effective at preventing the spread of COVID-19?
TRUE. Masks with valves are not as effective at preventing the spread of COVID-19 compared to a plain cloth or surgical mask.
Sebastian Leck
- Aug 21, 2020
- 2 min
FACT CHECK: Does sanitizing surfaces make a difference in preventing the spread of COVID-19?
MOSTLY TRUE. Sanitizing surfaces is not as important as physical distancing, hand washing, or wearing masks for containing COVID-19.
Sebastian Leck
- Aug 13, 2020
- 3 min
FACT CHECK: Did the flu vaccine cause more people to die from COVID-19 in Italy?
FALSE. There is no evidence that the flu vaccine contributed to a higher number of COVID-19-related deaths in Italy.
Sebastian Leck
- Aug 6, 2020
- 3 min
FACT CHECK: Do four-fifths of people infected with COVID-19 show no symptoms?
MISLEADING. The figure represents only one day of numbers from China in April.
Sebastian Leck
- Jul 30, 2020
- 3 min
FACT CHECK: Do hydroxychloroquine, zinc, and Zithromax cure COVID-19?
FALSE. There is no known cure for COVID-19. The anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine hasn’t proven to be an effective treatment or cure...
Sebastian Leck
- Jul 23, 2020
- 2 min
FACT CHECK: Is it possible to get sick from food handled by a farm worker who has COVID-19?
FALSE. It’s highly unlikely that a consumer could get COVID-19 from food handled by an infected farm worker.
Sebastian Leck
- Jul 16, 2020
- 4 min
FACT CHECK: Is wearing a mask bad for your health?
FALSE. Claims that wearing masks reduce oxygen intake, cause wearers to inhale toxins, or shut down the immune system are false.
Sebastian Leck
- Jul 9, 2020
- 3 min
FACT CHECK: Does leaving the middle seat empty on a plane prevent the spread of COVID-19?
UNCLEAR. Leaving a middle seat empty doesn’t meet physical distancing requirements, and the risks of air travel are still uncertain.
Sebastian Leck
- Jul 2, 2020
- 3 min
FACT CHECK: Are temperature checks at airports an effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19?
Temperature screenings alone are not effective at preventing the COVID-19 virus from spreading.
Sebastian Leck
- Jun 19, 2020
- 3 min
FACT CHECK: Has the risk of catching COVID-19 on public transit been overstated?
MOSTLY TRUE based on the research so far. Though there has been limited research on the subject, current evidence suggests that public...
Sebastian Leck
- Jun 12, 2020
- 3 min
FACT CHECK: Is the COVID-19 virus becoming less deadly and contagious over time?
As of June 12, most scientists agree that new mutations are not causing the COVID-19 virus to become less deadly or transmissible.
Sebastian Leck
- Jun 5, 2020
- 3 min
FACT CHECK: Can COVID-19 spread via air conditioning?
There is some evidence that air conditioning in a poorly-ventilated space could spread droplets, but the science remains unclear.
Sebastian Leck
- May 29, 2020
- 3 min
FACT CHECK: Can you get COVID-19 from touching contaminated surfaces?
Becoming infected with COVID-19 from surface contamination is possible, but it is not likely to be a major source of transmission.
Sebastian Leck
- May 22, 2020
- 3 min
FACT CHECK: Did the Ontario government instruct care home staff to downgrade their masks?
MISLEADING. Workers in facilities with active outbreaks will still use medical-grade masks.
Sebastian Leck
- May 15, 2020
- 3 min
FACT CHECK: Are 5G cell towers causing the spread of the COVID-19 virus?
FALSE. There is no evidence linking 5G cell towers to the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Sebastian Leck
- May 8, 2020
- 3 min
FACT CHECK: Is a new mutation making the COVID-19 virus more contagious?
Scientists say the existing research isn’t sufficient to support the theory.