5 Ways to Check the Facts About COVID-19

Can COVID-19 spread through 5G networks? Does sunlight prevent the coronavirus?

For the record, the answer to both questions is no, which you can read more about on the World Health Organization’s Myth Busters website.

But these are just a few of the myths that have been spreading online and in social media posts about the current pandemic in what Snopes.com calls an “infodemic.”

We’ve written about the problem of fake news before, but in these crisis times, your health depends on accurate information. If you see a news story or social media post that sounds fishy, check the facts using one of the following websites.

Find the links below the infographic.


5 ways to check the facts about COVID-19 infographic

1. WHO Myth Busters
The World Health Organization has a page devoted to correcting misinformation about the coronavirus.

2. Factcheck.org
This nonpartisan project of the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Public Policy Center has expanded on their mission of fact-checking political claims to include coronavirus coverage.

3. Politifact.com
A nonpartisan website run by the Poynter Institute, a nonprofit school for journalists, Politifact researches and rates politicians’ claims about the coronavirus and other issues.

4. Snopes.com
One of the oldest and most respected resources “for urban legends, folklore, myths, rumors, and misinformation,” Snopes also checks the reliability of news stories and social media posts. The site has a large collection of fact-checks about the coronavirus.

5. Ask a Librarian
We are always happy to help you research whether or not a news story, social media post, or image is true or false.

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