jpd459/healthver_resplit_larger huggingface dataset:
Claim: dexamethasone reduced death rates
Question: what evidence is there for dexamethasone as a treatment for COVID-19?
Evidence: To date, there has been no definite therapy for COVID-19.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: COVID-19 and kids: What can happen when children get the coronavirus. A rare but sometimes deadly syndrome poses extra risk for COVID's youngest victims.
Question: Can children get COVID-19?
Evidence: The Risk of Children Hospitalized With Severe COVID-19 in Wuhan.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Tiny antibody component highly effective against SARS-COV-2 in animal studies
Question: are there any drugs that work for SARS-CoV or SARS-CoV-2 in animals?
Evidence: When used for prophylaxis or treatment neither the standard human malaria dose (6.5 mg/kg) nor a high dose (50 mg/kg) of HCQ had any beneficial effect on clinical disease or SARS-CoV-2 kinetics (replication/shedding) in the Syrian hamster disease model. Similarly, HCQ prophylaxis/treatment (6.5 mg/kg) did not significantly benefit clinical outcome nor reduce SARS-CoV-2 replication/shedding in the upper and lower respiratory tract in the rhesus macaque disease model. In conclusion, our preclinical animal studies do not support the use of HCQ in prophylaxis/treatment of COVID-19.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: there is no scientific evidence establishing a link between ibuprofen and worsening of covid-19
Question: Can taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) worsen COVID-19?
Evidence: It was recently suggested that Ibuprofen might increase the risk for severe and fatal COVID-19 disease and should therefore be avoided in this patient population.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: To help slow the spread and reduce your risk of COVID-19, stay at least 6 feet away from others. Keeping physical distance is important, even if you are not sick.
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: The decentralized strategy is insufficient when used alone, but offers the best results when combined with the centralized one. Indeed, the (C+D) is the most efficient isolation strategy at mitigating the network superspreaders and reducing the highest node degrees to less than 10% of their initial values.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: The CORONAVIRUS did not emerge in Wuhan
Question: what is the origin of COVID-19
Evidence: This provides evidences strongly supporting scientific hypotheses that bats and pangolins are probable hosts for the COVID-19 virus. At the whole genome analysis level, our findings also indicate that bats are more likely the hosts for the COVID-19 virus than pangolins.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: to reduce the spread of the virus: try to stay at least 2 metres (3 steps) away from anyone you do not live with (or anyone not in your support bubble); wash your hands with soap and water often - do this for at least 20 seconds; use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available; wash your hands as soon as you get home; cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze; put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: social distancing is associated with a statistically-significant reduction in the doubling rate for all but three states.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Infections occur mainly through exposure to respiratory droplets when a person is in close contact with someone who has COVID-19.
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: social distancing and have seen slowing the spread of COVID-19.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: vitamin D might help protect against becoming infected with, and developing serious symptoms of, COVID-19
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: A principal defence against uncontrolled inflammation, and against viral infection in general, is provided by T regulatory lymphocytes (Tregs). Treg levels have been reported to be low in many COVID-19 patients and can be increased by vitamin D supplementation. Low vitamin D levels have been associated with an increase in inflammatory cytokines and a significantly increased risk of pneumonia and viral upper respiratory tract infections. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increase in thrombotic episodes, which are frequently observed in COVID-19. Vitamin D deficiency has been found to occur more frequently in patients with obesity and diabetes. These conditions are reported to carry a higher mortality in COVID-19. If vitamin D does in fact reduce the severity of COVID-19 in regard to pneumonia/ARDS, inflammation, inflammatory cytokines and thrombosis, it is our opinion that supplements would offer a relatively easy option to decrease the impact of the pandemic.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: camostat mesylate cure coronavirus.
Question: are there any drugs that work for SARS-CoV or SARS-CoV-2 in animals?
Evidence: Several efforts are currently made to find a treatment for COVID-19 patients. So far, several anti-viral and immunosuppressive or immunomodulating drugs have demonstrated some efficacy on COVID-19 both in vitro and in animal models as well as in cases series. 
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Coronaviruses cause respiratory illnesses, so the lungs are usually affected first. Early symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
Question: will SARS-CoV2 infected people develop immunity?
Evidence: Based on animal experiments, already acquired data on other coronavirus types and plausibility assumptions, it can be assumed that seroconverted patients have an immunity of limited duration and only a very low risk of reinfection.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Pets can Spread Coronavirus (COVID-19) to People
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19?
Evidence: Cellular angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the receptor of SARS-CoV-2 which is identical or similar in different species of animals such as pigs, ferrets, cats, orangutans, monkeys, and humans. Moreover, a recent study predicted that dog might be secondary host during the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 from bat to human. Therefore, there is a possibility of spreading SARS-CoV-2 through domestic pets.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Cloth face coverings are most likely to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus when they are widely used by people in public settings
Question: what are the best masks for preventing infection by Covid-19?
Evidence: A trend in favour of N95 respirators was observed in preventing laboratory-confirmed respiratory viral infections, laboratory-confirmed respiratory infection, and influenza like illness.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: drugs (Anti-inflammatory drugs, which includes steroids such as prednisone and non-steroidal drugs like ibuprofen) are helpful for symptomatic treatment only and are not a cure. By decreasing inflammation, they can decrease pain, swelling, redness and other symptoms that may be associated with inflammation.
Question: Can taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) worsen COVID-19?
Evidence: As fever may have benefit in shortening the duration of viral illness, it is plausible to hypothesize that the antipyretic efficacy of ibuprofen may be hindering the benefits of a fever response when taken during the early stages of COVID-19 illness.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: As many deaths due to COVID-19 may be assigned to other causes of deaths (for example, if COVID-19 was not mentioned on the death certificate as a suspected cause of death), tracking all-cause mortality can provide information about whether an excess number of deaths is observed, even when COVID-19 mortality may be undercounted.
Question: how do people die from the coronavirus?
Evidence: Compared to the recovered group, more patients in the death group exhibited characteristics of advanced age, pre-existing comorbidities, dyspnea, oxygen saturation decrease, increased WBC count, decreased lymphocytes, and elevated CRP levels.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Various coronaviruses infect numerous species, but the first human coronaviruses weren't discovered until the mid-1960s.
Question: what is the origin of COVID-19
Evidence: This paper investigates the COVID-19 virus origin by using artificial intelligence (AI) and raw genomic sequences of the virus.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Drinking hot ginger tea, with or without these additional ingredients, will cure COVID-19
Question: Does garlic protect against covid-19
Evidence: In conclusion, Allium sativum may be an acceptable preventive measure against COVID-19 infection to boost immune system cells and to repress the production and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines as well as an adipose tissue derived hormone leptin having the proinflammatory nature.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Smoking is a risk factor for COVID-19 patients, but one particular substance in cigarettes - nicotine - might prevent infection in some people, or improve COVID-19 prognosis
Question: Can smoking help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Active smoking was associated with decreased odds of Covid-19.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: there is no scientific evidence establishing a link between ibuprofen and worsening of covid-19
Question: Can taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) worsen COVID-19?
Evidence: Concern about the appropriate role of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in COVID-19 speculate that NSAIDs, in particular ibuprofen, may upregulate the entry point for the virus, the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) 2 receptors and increase susceptibility to the virus or worsen symptoms in existing disease.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: 5G caused the coronavirus outbreak
Question: Can 5G technology cause COVID-19?
Evidence: a popular theory has linked 5G to the spread of COVID-19
Verdict: Supports
Claim: VITAMIN D HEALTHY LEVELS decrease COVID-19 MORTALITY RATES
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: Vitamin D deficiency that is not sufficiently treated is associated with COVID-19 risk.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: there is no link between vitamin D concentrations and risk of COVID-19 infection.
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: A principal defence against uncontrolled inflammation, and against viral infection in general, is provided by T regulatory lymphocytes (Tregs). Treg levels have been reported to be low in many COVID-19 patients and can be increased by vitamin D supplementation. Low vitamin D levels have been associated with an increase in inflammatory cytokines and a significantly increased risk of pneumonia and viral upper respiratory tract infections. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increase in thrombotic episodes, which are frequently observed in COVID-19. Vitamin D deficiency has been found to occur more frequently in patients with obesity and diabetes. These conditions are reported to carry a higher mortality in COVID-19. If vitamin D does in fact reduce the severity of COVID-19 in regard to pneumonia/ARDS, inflammation, inflammatory cytokines and thrombosis, it is our opinion that supplements would offer a relatively easy option to decrease the impact of the pandemic.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: A study from the Journal of Hospital Infection found that wearing a face covering slashed the risk of infection by 24% for a simple cotton covering and up to 99% for a professional, medical-grade filtration mask. 
Question: Can wearing masks help in preventing the spread of the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: Evidence that face masks provide effective protection against respiratory infections in the community is scarce. However, face masks are widely used by health workers as part of droplet precautions when caring for patients with respiratory infections. It would therefore be reasonable to suggest that consistent widespread use of face masks in the community could prevent further spread of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Only an N95 mask will help me from getting covid-19.
Question: Can face masks protect me from the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: Together, this study suggested that medical masks are adequate for use on most social occasions, and both medical masks and N95 masks can be reused for a few days with steam decontamination between use.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: vitamin D might be able to protect people from the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: A significant negative correlation (p=0.033) has been observed between mean vitamin D levels and COVID-19 cases per one million population in European countries.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: fever is beneficial to the body's natural immune response to fight covid-19;
Question: Can taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) worsen COVID-19?
Evidence: The Expert Working Group on the Commission of Human Medicines in the UK and other organizations have stated that there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between ibuprofen and susceptibility to or exacerbation of COVID-19.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: The coronavirus came from the local wet market in China
Question: what is the origin of COVID-19
Evidence: Zhou et al (1) mentioned that 'Direct contact with intermediate host animals or consumption of wild animals was suspected to be the main route of SARSCoV2 transmission.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Vitamin B could help prevent the 'worst outcomes' in covid-19 cases
Question: Does Vitamin C impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: Dietary supplementation has not been linked to COVID-19 prevention.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: it's also important to have a strong immune system that can fight back against the germs you may encounter.
Question: Does having a weakened immune system increase your risk of illness from COVID-19?
Evidence: studies suggest that the resultant disease (COVID-19) is more severe in individuals with a weakened immune system.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: COVID-19 can survive on surfaces, like a tabletop
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence: Surfaces near patients hospitalized with respiratory infections were frequently contaminated by pathogens, with Klebsiella pneumoniae being most common, highlighting the potential for transmission of respiratory pathogens via surfaces.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: it is "significantly" improving oronavirus patients symptoms when traiting them with Vitamin C.
Question: Does Vitamin C impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: Although COVID-19 can be rapidly diagnosed, efficient clinical treatment of COVID-19 remains unavailable, resulting in high fatality.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: he virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is stable for several hours to days in aerosols and on surfaces
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence: The most common coronaviruses may well survive or persist on surfaces for up to one month.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Coronavirus remains stable on metals and plastic for three days. Outside a lab, however, the virus might last considerably longer: its genetic material could be detected on surfaces 17 days after a cruise ship was empty of passengers (although it's not clear whether that material represents infectious virus particles).
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence: The contaminated surface environment in hospitals plays an important role in the transmission of several key nosocomial pathogens including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp., Clostridium difficile, Acinetobacter spp., and norovirus.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Hypothesis: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers may increase the risk of severe COVID-19
Question: are patients taking Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE) inhibitors at increased risk for COVID-19?
Evidence: Our results strongly support the recommendation that ACEI and ARB should be continued in the population and in COVID-19 positive patients, reinforcing the position of several scientific societies.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Blood pressure drugs may improve COVID-19 survival
Question: are patients taking Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE) inhibitors at increased risk for COVID-19?
Evidence: The present study has found that the use of ACE inh/ARBs therapy might be associated with an increased in-hospital mortality in patients who were diagnosed with Covid-19 pneumonia.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: VITAMIN D HEALTHY LEVELS decrease COVID-19 MORTALITY RATES
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: testing positive for COVID-19 was associated with increasing age(RR(age<50)=1.05,p<0.021;RR(age[]50)=1.02,p<0.064)), non-white race(RR=2.54,p<0.01) and being likely vitamin D deficient (deficient/treatment-not-increased:RR=1.77,p<0.02) as compared to likely vitamin D sufficient(not-deficient/treatment-not-decreased), with predicted COVID-19 rates in the vitamin D deficient group of 21.6%(95%CI[14.0%-29.2%] ) versus 12.2%(95%CI[8.9%-15.4%]) in the vitamin D sufficient group.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Severe COVID-19 outcomes decreases as the pandemic progressed from winter to the warmer months
Question: how does the coronavirus respond to changes in the weather
Evidence: Each 1 C rise of temperature was associated with a 4.8951% (t = 2.29, p = 0.0226) decrease in the number of daily cumulative confirmed cases of COVID-19
Verdict: Supports
Claim: a popular treatment to tamp down the immune system in severely ill patients may help a few, but could harm many others. 
Question: will SARS-CoV2 infected people develop immunity?
Evidence: The CD4 + memory exploiting could help immune system to recall immunity of already know antigens against coronaviruses, avoiding or limiting "lung crash" until virus specific immunity develops and making it faster and prolonged. Finally, this administration could be helpful not only in already infected patients, but also before infection. In fact, people could have an immune system more ready when the contact with the Covid-19 will occur.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: diabetes significantly increases coronavirus sufferers risk of dying
Question: what kinds of complications related to COVID-19 are associated with diabetes
Evidence: the association between DM and COVID-19-induced severe complications is still unclear
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: UVC wands kill viruses. They're also a 'major safety issue
Question: what hand sanitizers kill COVID-19?
Evidence: The ongoing COVID19 pandemic has made various challenges for communications all over the world. Nowadays hand hygiene practices with alcohol sanitizers are an unavoidable reality for many people, which cause skin dryness and flaking.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Early studies have found that cats are the animals most likely to catch the new coronavirus. They can also show symptoms of COVID-19 and might be able to pass it to other cats.
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19?
Evidence: Using data from probable cat-to-cat transmission in Wuhan, China, we estimated the basic reproduction number R0 under this scenario at 1.09 (95% confidence interval: 1.05, 1.13). This value is much lower than the R0 reported for humans and close to one, indicating that the sustained transmission between cats is unlikely to occur.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Surgical masks will not prevent your acquiring diseases.
Question: Can face masks protect me from the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: This study 1) illustrates transmission routes of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2);
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 are the same thing
Question: Do COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 mean the same thing?
Evidence: The data shown here give hints on the origin of this virus and may inform efforts on transmissibility, host adaptation and other biological aspects of this virus.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: UVC wands kill viruses. They're also a 'major safety issue
Question: what hand sanitizers kill COVID-19?
Evidence: Most alcohol based hand sanitizers are effective at inactivating enveloped viruses, including coronaviruses.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: A headache is a potential symptom of COVID-19.
Question: Is a headache sign of the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: Cough, fever, headache and asthenia were the most prevalent symptoms.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Like other viruses with a lipid envelope, SARS-CoV-2 is probably sensitive to temperature, humidity, and solar radiation
Question: how does the coronavirus respond to changes in the weather
Evidence: These results provide evidence for the relationship between several weather variables and the spread of COVID-19. However, the (conservatively) estimated relationships are not strong enough to seasonally control the epidemic in most locations.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: While there is very limited data (and none specific for COVID-19), the following cocktail may have a role in the prevention/mitigation of COVID-19 disease. Vitamin C 500 mg BID and Quercetin 250 mg daily Zinc 75-100 mg/day
Question: Does Vitamin C impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: The majority of documents encouraged the consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods. Thirty-one percent of the guidelines highlighted the importance of minerals and vitamins such as zinc and vitamins C, A, and D to maintain a well-functioning immune system.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Vitamins and Minerals Help Fight Coronavirus
Question: Does Vitamin C impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: Some nutrients are actively involved in the proper functioning and strengthening of the human immune system against viral infections including dietary protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, iron, zinc, and selenium. Few studies were done on the effect of dietary components on prevention of COVID-19, but supplementation with these nutrients may be effective in improving the health status of patients with viral infections.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Like other viruses with a lipid envelope, SARS-CoV-2 is probably sensitive to temperature, humidity, and solar radiation
Question: how does the coronavirus respond to changes in the weather
Evidence: The current study focuses on the relationship between environmental parameters and the growth rate of COVID-19. The statistical analysis suggests that the temperature changes retarded the growth rate and found that -6.28C and +14.51C temperature is the favorable range for COVID-19 growth.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Can acetaminophen (Tylenol) treat the coronavirus disease? No
Question: Can acetaminophen (Tylenol) treat the coronavirus disease?
Evidence:  Studies show that ibuprofen and naproxen not only have positive effects in controlling cold symptoms, but also do not cause serious side effects in rhinovirus infections.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Because some of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, it may be hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone
Question: what are the early symptoms of COVID-19?
Evidence: In our cohort, ODs were an early symptom of COVID-19
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: diabetes significantly increases coronavirus sufferers risk of dying
Question: what kinds of complications related to COVID-19 are associated with diabetes
Evidence: diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol levels possess an apparent relation to COVID-19 severity.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19
Question: Do COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 mean the same thing?
Evidence: The recently emerged SARS-CoV-2 (Coronaviridae; Betacoronavirus) is the underlying cause of COVID-19 disease.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Smoking is a risk factor for COVID-19 patients, but one particular substance in cigarettes - nicotine - might prevent infection in some people, or improve COVID-19 prognosis
Question: Can smoking help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Our findings support a causal effect of elevated BMI and smoking on risk of sepsis and severe covid-19.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: the warmer weather will slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19
Question: how does the coronavirus respond to changes in the weather
Evidence: We show that the delay between exposure and detection of infection complicates the estimation of weather impact on COVID-19 transmission, potentially explaining significant variability in results to-date
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Smoking is a risk factor for COVID-19 patients, but one particular substance in cigarettes - nicotine - might prevent infection in some people, or improve COVID-19 prognosis
Question: Can smoking help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Cannabis smoking is linked with poor respiratory health, immunosuppression and multiple contaminants. Potential synergism between the two epidemics would represent a major public health convergence. Cigarettes were implicated with disease severity in Wuhan, China.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Although smoking is the most common way to use marijuana, some people bake it into a brownie or other food. Eating pot might spare you the lung effects of this drug, but that doesn't mean it's safe.
Question: Can smoking cannabis (weed) help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Male, aged over 65, smoking patients might face a greater risk of developing into the critical or mortal condition and the comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory diseases could also greatly affect the prognosis of the COVID-19.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Remdesivir proves effective against COVID-19
Question: is remdesivir an effective treatment for COVID-19?
Evidence: remdesivir is not sufficient on its own and may be suitable in combination with other antivirals or treatments such as convalescent plasma.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: It does not make a lot of sense that if somebody is otherwise healthy and young and they have hypertension alone, that they should be at increased risk
Question: what kinds of complications related to COVID-19 are associated with hypertension?
Evidence: COVID-19 patients with hypertension had more severe secondary infections, cardiac and renal dysfunction, and depletion of CD8+ cells on admission. Patients with hypertension were more likely to have comorbidities and complications and were more likely to be classified as critically ill than those without hypertension.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Surgical Masks Stop Transmission Of COVID-19 From Symptomatic People
Question: Does a surgical mask help avoid COVID-19?
Evidence: N95 respirators might reduce SARS-CoV-1 risk versus surgical masks in health care settings, but applicability to SARS-CoV-2 is uncertain.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: How long does Coronavirus last on surfaces? And which disinfectants are most effective at cleaning them? Those two questions are important not only for healthcare centrers but any public place with a lot of activity - locations where you'll frequently touch surfaces such as door handles with your hands. You might then potentially infect yourself by touching your face, which happens more often than you think.
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence: Surfaces near patients hospitalized with respiratory infections were frequently contaminated by pathogens, with Klebsiella pneumoniae being most common, highlighting the potential for transmission of respiratory pathogens via surfaces.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: High Blood Pressure Doesn't Seem To Raise COVID-19 Risk
Question: what kinds of complications related to COVID-19 are associated with hypertension?
Evidence:  Hypertension has been proven to be more prevalent in patients with an adverse outcome (admission in intensive care unit, use of mechanical ventilation, or death).
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Wearing the N95 respirator mask can protect against coronavirus
Question: Can face masks protect me from the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: It would therefore be reasonable to suggest that consistent widespread use of face masks in the community could prevent further spread of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
Verdict: Supports
Claim: smokers have a very much lower probability of developing symptomatic or severe SARA-CoV-2 [COVID-19] infection as compared to the general population
Question: Can smoking help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Future research is needed to establish the mechanisms involved in each comorbidity and the apparent "protective" effect of cigarette smoking.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: nearly half of coronavirus cases are people 20 to 44 years old
Question: what are the mortality rates overall and in specific populations
Evidence: As COVID-19 mortality occurs mainly in elderly and as Africa has a comparably young population, the death rates should be lower than on other continents. We calculated standardised mortality ratios (SMR) using age-specific case fatality rates for COVID-19 and the age structure of the population of Africa and of other continents. Compared to a European or Northern American population, the standardised mortality ratio was only 0.22 and 0.25, respectively, corresponding to reduction of deaths rates to a quarter. Compared to the Asian and Latin American & Caribbean population, the SMR was 0.43 and 0.44, respectively, corresponding to half the death rate for Africa.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Dogs can test positive for the virus.
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19?
Evidence: Although a few pets presented many clinical signs indicative for a coronavirus infection, no animal tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR and no antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were detectable in their blood using an immunoprecipitation assay.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: N95 masks are better than clothe masks
Question: what are the best masks for preventing infection by Covid-19?
Evidence: Herein, we report that nosocomial infection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may be mitigated by using surgical masks and closed looped ventilation for both non-critical and critical patients.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: The overall risk of dying in the hospital from COVID-19 among people with T1D is very low, however, one study found that this risk is higher for people with T1D (3.5 times higher) compared to people without diabetes.
Question: what kinds of complications related to COVID-19 are associated with diabetes
Evidence: Older age, diabetes and other comorbidities are reported as significant predictors of morbidity and mortality. Chronic inflammation, increased coagulation activity, immune response impairment, and potential direct pancreatic damage by SARS-CoV-2 might be among the underlying mechanisms of the association between diabetes and COVID-19.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Vitamin D Does Not Cure Covid-19 But It Plays an Important Role
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: A principal defence against uncontrolled inflammation, and against viral infection in general, is provided by T regulatory lymphocytes (Tregs). Treg levels have been reported to be low in many COVID-19 patients and can be increased by vitamin D supplementation. Low vitamin D levels have been associated with an increase in inflammatory cytokines and a significantly increased risk of pneumonia and viral upper respiratory tract infections. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increase in thrombotic episodes, which are frequently observed in COVID-19. Vitamin D deficiency has been found to occur more frequently in patients with obesity and diabetes. These conditions are reported to carry a higher mortality in COVID-19. If vitamin D does in fact reduce the severity of COVID-19 in regard to pneumonia/ARDS, inflammation, inflammatory cytokines and thrombosis, it is our opinion that supplements would offer a relatively easy option to decrease the impact of the pandemic.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: the Covid-19 coronavirus can stay on various surfaces for a while
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence: Surfaces near patients hospitalized with respiratory infections were frequently contaminated by pathogens, with Klebsiella pneumoniae being most common, highlighting the potential for transmission of respiratory pathogens via surfaces.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Can apple cider vinegar prevent the coronavirus? Nothing can really prevent the corona virus (COVid-19) all that authorities can do is slow it down which is why such tough measures are being enforced in some countries.
Question: Can vinegar help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Considering its potential benefits and high availability, acetic acid disinfection appears to be a promising adjunctive therapy in cases of non-severe COVID-19 and deserves further investigation.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: there are few novel sars-cov-2 cases in malaria countries because of the use of the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine.
Question: does hydroxychloroquine treat COVID-19?
Evidence: There is theoretical, experimental, preclinical and clinical evidence of the effectiveness of chloroquine in patients affected with COVID-19. 
Verdict: Supports
Claim: COVID-19 can survive on surfaces, like a tabletop
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence: Nonfabric surface materials were found to be much more favorable in the indirect contact transmission for RSV and rhinovirus than fabric surface materials.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: vitamin D might help protect against becoming infected with, and developing serious symptoms of, COVID-19
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: ecological investigation on 51 countries including 408,748 participants, analyses indicated no correlation between vitamin D levels and recovery rate (r= 0.041) as well as mortality rate (r=-0.073) globally.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Unexpected Cause of Death in Younger COVID-19 Patients is Related to Blood Clotting
Question: how do people die from the coronavirus?
Evidence: Lack of personal protective equipment was cited as a common cause of death.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Can apple cider vinegar prevent the coronavirus? Nothing can really prevent the corona virus (COVid-19) all that authorities can do is slow it down which is why such tough measures are being enforced in some countries.
Question: Can vinegar help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Numerous clinical trials have been launched to identify effective treatments for COVID-19. Initial data from a placebo-controlled study suggest faster time to recovery in patients on remdesivir; it is now being evaluated in additional controlled studies.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: wearing a mask helps stop infected people from spreading the new coronavirus to others.
Question: Can face masks protect me from the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: and 3) provides suggestion that the public should wear the mask during COVID-19 pandemic according to local context.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: People with diabetes have not a higher risk for complications from coronavirus
Question: what kinds of complications related to COVID-19 are associated with diabetes
Evidence: Type 2 diabetic patients were more susceptible to COVID-19 than overall population, which might be associated with hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: As the novel coronavirus sweeps the globe, those with high blood pressure are at heightened risk for more severe complications should they contract Covid-19
Question: what kinds of complications related to COVID-19 are associated with hypertension?
Evidence:  Hypertension has been proven to be more prevalent in patients with an adverse outcome (admission in intensive care unit, use of mechanical ventilation, or death).
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Some herbal medicine advocates believe that the combination of garlic, ginger and some herbs can cure Coronavirus.
Question: Does garlic protect against covid-19
Evidence: In conclusion, Allium sativum may be an acceptable preventive measure against COVID-19 infection to boost immune system cells and to repress the production and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines as well as an adipose tissue derived hormone leptin having the proinflammatory nature.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: In one study it was found that 100% of ICU COVID-19 patients less than 75 years old had vitamin D insufficiency.
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: A significant negative correlation (p=0.033) has been observed between mean vitamin D levels and COVID-19 cases per one million population in European countries.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Adding pepper to your soup or other meals does not prevent or cure COVID-19.
Question: Does garlic protect against covid-19
Evidence: In late December 2019 in Wuhan, China, several patients with viral pneumonia were identified as 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). So far, there are no specific treatments for patients with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), and the treatments available today are based on previous experience with similar viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and Influenza virus.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Severe COVID-19 outcomes decreases as the pandemic progressed from winter to the warmer months
Question: how does the coronavirus respond to changes in the weather
Evidence: Temperature is the most influential parameter that reduces the growth at the rate of 13-16 cases/day with a 1{degrees}C rise in temperature
Verdict: Supports
Claim: People with Diabetes May Have Higher Risk for COVID-19
Question: what kinds of complications related to COVID-19 are associated with diabetes
Evidence: diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol levels possess an apparent relation to COVID-19 severity.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Because some of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, it may be hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone
Question: what are the early symptoms of COVID-19?
Evidence: Gustatory Dysfunction as an Early Symptom in COVID-19 Screening
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: In severe cases of COVID-19, activation patterns of B cells resemble those seen in systemic lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune disease. Emory researchers want to see how far that resemblance extends.
Question: will SARS-CoV2 infected people develop immunity?
Evidence: we discovered evidence that SARS-CoV-2, along with related coronaviruses, used mutations to evade attack from the human immune system. Overall, we present an immunological resource for SARS-CoV-2 that could promote both therapeutic development and mechanistic research.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: drugs (Anti-inflammatory drugs, which includes steroids such as prednisone and non-steroidal drugs like ibuprofen) are helpful for symptomatic treatment only and are not a cure. By decreasing inflammation, they can decrease pain, swelling, redness and other symptoms that may be associated with inflammation.
Question: Can taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) worsen COVID-19?
Evidence: When compared with exclusive paracetamol users, no differences were observed in mortality rates or the need for respiratory support among patients using ibuprofen.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: both dogs and cats can be infected by the virus that causes Covid-19 in humans, but none of the ten animals observed in the study showed clinical symptoms like coughing
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19?
Evidence: Using data from probable cat-to-cat transmission in Wuhan, China, we estimated the basic reproduction number R0 under this scenario at 1.09 (95% confidence interval: 1.05, 1.13). This value is much lower than the R0 reported for humans and close to one, indicating that the sustained transmission between cats is unlikely to occur.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Cats may be able to spread coronavirus to humans despite showing no symptoms
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19 to people?
Evidence: Although coronavirus infections in pets are known to be predominantly related to the gastrointestinal tract, it has been observed that there are human-to-animal transmissions in this outbreak and some animals have similar symptoms to humans.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: vitamin D might be able to protect people from the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: In Middle East, the recovery rate (r= 0.267) and mortality rate (r= -0.217) showed a medium correlation.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: the virus can stay on surfaces long enough to be a source of transmission
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence: The most common coronaviruses may well survive or persist on surfaces for up to one month.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: If the person is asymptomatic but was tested after having close contact with someone with SARS-CoV-2 infection or as part of a response to an outbreak (e.g., facility has a resident with nursing-home onset COVID-19 or a HCP with COVID-19), then they should also be considered to have SARS-CoV-2 infection and managed as described above.
Question: what is known about people that have COVID-19 without any symptoms?
Evidence: The evidence confirms COVID-19 transmission from people who were asymptomatic at the time.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Coronaviruses cause respiratory illnesses, so the lungs are usually affected first. Early symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
Question: will SARS-CoV2 infected people develop immunity?
Evidence: we discovered evidence that SARS-CoV-2, along with related coronaviruses, used mutations to evade attack from the human immune system. Overall, we present an immunological resource for SARS-CoV-2 that could promote both therapeutic development and mechanistic research.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: wearing a mask  may offer some protection for the covid-19
Question: Can face masks protect me from the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: We also demonstrated that three brands of medical masks blocked over 99% viruses in aerosols. The avian coronavirus was completely inactivated after being steamed for 5 minutes.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Wearing a surgical face mask probably won't keep you from getting sick
Question: Can face masks protect me from the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: Together, this study suggested that medical masks are adequate for use on most social occasions, and both medical masks and N95 masks can be reused for a few days with steam decontamination between use.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: vitamin D might help protect against becoming infected with, and developing serious symptoms of, COVID-19
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: Vitamin D deficiency that is not sufficiently treated is associated with COVID-19 risk.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: covid-19 increases risk of heart attacks and stroke
Question: how do people die from the coronavirus?
Evidence: Compared to the recovered group, more patients in the death group exhibited characteristics of advanced age, pre-existing comorbidities, dyspnea, oxygen saturation decrease, increased WBC count, decreased lymphocytes, and elevated CRP levels.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: The most important thing to know about using over-the-counter medications to treat COVID-19 is that none of these common drugstore products are actually going to treat the virus itself.
Question: Can taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) worsen COVID-19?
Evidence: When compared with exclusive paracetamol users, no differences were observed in mortality rates or the need for respiratory support among patients using ibuprofen.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Vitamin D Supplementation Could Reduce Risk of Influenza and COVID-19 Infections and Deaths
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: In Middle East, the recovery rate (r= 0.267) and mortality rate (r= -0.217) showed a medium correlation.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: A new Chinese coronavirus, a cousin of the SARS virus, has infected hundreds since the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December.
Question: what is the origin of COVID-19
Evidence: This provides evidences strongly supporting scientific hypotheses that bats and pangolins are probable hosts for the COVID-19 virus. At the whole genome analysis level, our findings also indicate that bats are more likely the hosts for the COVID-19 virus than pangolins.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Because SARS-CoV-2 has been discovered so recently, there haven't been many studies looking at how effective cleaners are against it
Question: Can vinegar help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Scientific researches on these drugs reveal the presence of a number of pharmacologically active substances, which may provide a new insight into the management of infections and epidemics.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Hot weather can spread the virus more as it may get you more out there, make you more mobile and you would actually interact with more people
Question: how does the coronavirus respond to changes in the weather
Evidence: Being a novel pandemic coronavirus version, it might be ongoing during summer conditions associated with higher air temperatures, low relative humidity and precipitation levels.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: vitamin D might be able to protect people from the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: testing positive for COVID-19 was associated with increasing age(RR(age<50)=1.05,p<0.021;RR(age[]50)=1.02,p<0.064)), non-white race(RR=2.54,p<0.01) and being likely vitamin D deficient (deficient/treatment-not-increased:RR=1.77,p<0.02) as compared to likely vitamin D sufficient(not-deficient/treatment-not-decreased), with predicted COVID-19 rates in the vitamin D deficient group of 21.6%(95%CI[14.0%-29.2%] ) versus 12.2%(95%CI[8.9%-15.4%]) in the vitamin D sufficient group.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Hand washing with soap and water and scrubbing for at least 20 seconds is recommended, but a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol is the best alternative
Question: what hand sanitizers kill COVID-19?
Evidence: The index of India has remained very low (161) so far, mainly due to early implementation of social lockdown, social distancing, and sanitizing hands.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Many mammals around the world could have a role in spreading the disease, including dogs and cats.
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19?
Evidence: Experimental data showed ferrets and cats are highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 as infected by virus inoculation and can transmit the virus directly or indirectly by droplets or airborne route.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Covid-19 hits the old hardest, and young people do not die from it
Question: what are the mortality rates overall and in specific populations
Evidence: A confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection substantially increased the probability of death across all patient groups, ranging from nine (6 to 15) times the population mortality in 35-year old infected females to a 53-fold increase (46 to 59) for 95 year old infected males. The highest relative risks were observed among males and older patients.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: While there are a lot of unknowns with the novel virus, there's no evidence of COVID-19 transmitting through food or packaging, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
Question: Can COVID-19 spread through food?
Evidence: Also, SARS-COV-2 transmission through food, food packages, and food handlers has not been identified as a risk factor for the disease.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: headaches are rarely the sole symptom present in a coronavirus patient.
Question: Is a headache sign of the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: A few hours later the patient experienced intense headache and developed fever, cough and severe dyspnea. 
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Know how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 and what to do if you are sick.
Question: how does the coronavirus respond to changes in the weather
Evidence: These results provide evidence for the relationship between several weather variables and the spread of COVID-19. However, the (conservatively) estimated relationships are not strong enough to seasonally control the epidemic in most locations.
Verdict: Neutral