Claim: A chart purporting to show a schedule of pre-planned coronavirus variants has been shared thousands of times on social media as proof of a baseless conspiracy theory that the pandemic was staged. But viruses mutate unpredictably, several of the variants have already been detected ahead of the supposed timetable, and the groups whose logos appear in the posts -- including the World Health Organization -- told AFP that the image is not genuine.
Fact-check: Coronavirus variants are not released as part of staged pandemic
Verdict: coronavirus variants are not released as part of staged pandemic
Organisation: AFP Fact Check
Author: Marisha Goldhamer
Date published: 2021-11-30T10:53:00