jpd459/healthver_resplit_larger huggingface dataset:
Claim: wearing a mask  may offer some protection for the 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: 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: 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: Dogs can test positive for the virus.
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19?
Evidence: There is currently no indication that feline- or canine-to-human transmission can occur, though there is rising evidence of the reverse.
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: 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: headaches are rarely the sole symptom present in a coronavirus patient.
Question: Is a headache sign of the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: Symptomatic COVID19 patients, around 6%10%, also reported headache as a presenting symptom.
Verdict: Refutes
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 recently emerged SARS-CoV-2 (Coronaviridae; Betacoronavirus) is the underlying cause of COVID-19 disease.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Cats may be able to spread coronavirus to humans despite showing no symptoms
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19 to people?
Evidence: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)--the virus that causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19)--has been detected in domestic dogs and cats, raising concerns of transmission from, to, or between these animals. There is currently no indication that feline- or canine-to-human transmission can occur, though there is rising evidence of the reverse.
Verdict: Refutes
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: We estimate an overall infection fatality rate of 1.29% (95% credible interval [CrI] 0.89 - 2.01), as well as large differences by age, with a low infection fatality rate of 0.05% for under 60 year old (CrI 0-.19) and a substantially higher 4.25% (CrI 3.01-6.39) for people above 60 years of age.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Evidence is currently lacking and it is too early to make robust conclusions on any link between use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II type-I receptor blockers with risk or severity of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection.
Question: are patients taking Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE) inhibitors at increased risk for COVID-19?
Evidence: among patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19, ACEI/ARB use was not associated with increased risk of hospital admission.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: the symptoms of COVID-19 are no worse than a cold
Question: Do antibodies make you immune to COVID-19?
Evidence: We determined and compared the humoral immune response in severe, hospitalized and mild, non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: a small number of pets worldwide, including cats and dogs, can be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, mostly after close contact with people with COVID-19.
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: Neutral
Claim: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a novel (new) coronavirus, one that has not been previously identified in humans, and is responsible for an outbreak of respiratory illness that became a global pandemic in 2020. 
Question: Which are the first symptoms of the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVED-19, previously known as novel coronavirus pneumonia) was first discovered in December 2019 and spread widely in China and all over the world in 2020
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Hydroxychloroquine is an Effective Treatment for COVID-19
Question: does hydroxychloroquine treat COVID-19?
Evidence: The available evidence suggests that CQ or HCQ does not improve clinical outcomes in COVID-19.
Verdict: Refutes
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 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: Refutes
Claim: The high temperature and low relative humidity lead to high evaporation rates of saliva-contaminated droplets, thus significantly reducing the coronavirus viability
Question: how does the coronavirus respond to changes in the weather
Evidence: Results indicated that temperatures had a negative linear relationship with the number of confirmed cases.
Verdict: Refutes
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: 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: Neutral
Claim: the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is considered to be low.
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19?
Evidence: Little information on the SARS-CoV-2 virus in animals is available to date.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: showing drinking alcoholic beverages did not help to suppress viral infections, and the chances that it would work for Covid-19 patients were extremely slim.
Question: Can drinking alcohol help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Is drinking a healthy way of coping? No.
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: Epidemiological and laboratory research seems to suggest that smoking and perhaps nicotine alone could reduce the severity of COVID-19.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Masks can protect you from more severe COVID-19
Question: Can wearing masks help in preventing the spread of the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: Wearing medical masks or N95 masks (namely N95 respirators) can slow the virus spread and reduce the infection risk.
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: the tested bacteria favor lower temperatures for their survival in dry environments
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: VITAMIN D HEALTHY LEVELS decrease COVID-19 MORTALITY RATES
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: it is safe take Advil to bring down your temperature caused by covid-19
Question: Can taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) worsen COVID-19?
Evidence: However, available data from limited studies show administration of recombinant ACE2 improves lung damage caused by respiratory viruses, suggesting ibuprofen use may be beneficial in COVID-19 disease. 
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Can COVID-19 be spread from pets to people or other pets? According to the latest information from the CDC , the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is very low. However, because all animals can carry germs that can make people sick, it's always a good idea to practice healthy habits around pets and other animals.
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19 to people?
Evidence: Likewise, the S protein nucleotide sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus isolated in domestic animals and humans is identical, and the replication of the SARS-CoV-2 in cats is efficient.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Dexamethasone do not cure the new coronavirus
Question: what evidence is there for dexamethasone as a treatment for COVID-19?
Evidence: dexamethasone may be useful for the short-term in severe, intubated, COVID-19 patients, but could be outright dangerous during recovery since the virus will not only persist, but the body will be prevented from generating protective antibodies.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: The main warning signs of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, are fever, fatigue, and a dry cough.
Question: what are the early symptoms of COVID-19?
Evidence: Gustatory Dysfunction as an Early Symptom in COVID-19 Screening
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is considered to be low.
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19?
Evidence: We found that SARS-CoV-2 replicates poorly in dogs, pigs, chickens, and ducks, but ferrets and cats are permissive to infection.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: N95 masks are better than clothe masks
Question: what are the best masks for preventing infection by Covid-19?
Evidence: However, masks alone may not greatly slow down the COVID-19 pandemic unless they are coupled with adequate social distancing, diligent hand hygiene, and other proven preventive measures.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Scientists believe cannabis could help prevent, treat coronavirus
Question: Can smoking cannabis (weed) help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Since many articles have reported the effect of smoking (tobacco and cannabis) and vaping in cerebrovascular and neurological systems, and considering that smokers are more prone to viral and bacterial infection compared to non-smokers, it is high time to explore the probable correlation of smoking in COVID-19 patients.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Masks do reduce spread of flu and some COVID-19
Question: How much impact do masks have on preventing the spread of the COVID-19?
Evidence: We recommend immediate mask wearing recommendations, official guidelines for correct use, and awareness campaigns to shift masking mindsets away from pure self-protection, towards aspirational goals of responsibly protecting one's community.
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: 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: The high temperature and low relative humidity lead to high evaporation rates of saliva-contaminated droplets, thus significantly reducing the coronavirus viability
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: 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: Wearing medical masks or N95 masks (namely N95 respirators) can slow the virus spread and reduce the infection risk.
Verdict: Supports
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: Correcting for that distributed delay and offering conservative estimates, we find a negative relationship between temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius and estimated reproduction number ([R]), with each degree Celsius associated with a 3.1% (95% CI, 1.5% to 4.8%) reduction in [R]. Higher levels of relative humidity strengthen the negative effect of temperature above 25 degrees.
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 temperature changes retarded the growth rate and found that -6.28{degrees}C and +14.51{degrees}C temperature is the favorable range for COVID-19 growth
Verdict: Supports
Claim: cloth face mask with a filter can help prevent the spread of COVID-19
Question: what are the best masks for preventing infection by Covid-19?
Evidence: Neither mask type completely prevents transmission, which may be due to inappropriate handling and alternative transmission pathways. Therefore, compliance with a bundle of infection control measures including thorough hand hygiene is key.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and Advil, reduce fever, pain, and 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: covid-19 patients taking hydroxychloroquine do not benefit
Question: does hydroxychloroquine treat COVID-19?
Evidence: Preliminary clinical evidence from China and France showed significant virological and clinical benefit in HCQ-treated patients, while other studies, mostly including critically ill patients, did not show favorable results.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Yes, 5G radiation causes Covid-19 
Question: Can 5G technology cause COVID-19?
Evidence: In drawing things to a close, we explore the use of technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and 5G, among others, to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 outbreak.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: It appears that the virus that causes COVID-19 can spread from people to animals in some situations.
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: counties where the policies have been imposed have effectively increased social distancing and have seen slowing the spread of COVID-19.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Vitamin B could help prevent the 'worst outcomes' in covid-19 cases
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: Refutes
Claim: Green tea: Green tea is an excellent source of antiviral and anti-inflammatory catechins, notably, one called epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG.
Question: Can drinking hot green tea help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: In conclusion, the plant-based foods play a vital role to enhance the immunity of people to control of COVID-19.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: covid-19 patients taking hydroxychloroquine do not benefit
Question: does hydroxychloroquine treat COVID-19?
Evidence: The odds of mortality were significantly higher in patients treated with Hydroxychloroquine + Azithromycin than supportive care alone [2.34 (95% CI: 1.63, 3.34); I2 = 0%]. A pooled analysis of recently published studies suggests no additional benefit for reducing mortality in COVID-19 patients when Hydroxychloroquine is given as add-on to the standard care.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: To minimize coronavirus risk, use alcohol for sanitizing, not for drinking
Question: Can drinking alcohol help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Among the basic protective measures against COVID-19, the need to wash hands frequently and in a prolonged way using soap, and to regularly use alcohol-based hand sanitizers is well established for the whole population.
Verdict: Supports
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: COVID-19 infection may be associated with severe disease in childhood presenting to a specialist hospital, but does not appear significantly different in severity to other causes of similar clinical presentations. In children presenting with pre-existing COVID-19 vulnerable medical conditions at a specialist centre, there does not appear to be significantly increased risk of either contracting COVID-19 or severe complications, apart from those undergoing chemotherapy, who are over-represented.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: young peope are not at risk and do not die from covid-19
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: Refutes
Claim: Cats may be able to spread coronavirus to humans despite showing no symptoms
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19 to people?
Evidence: 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 routes.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: the mechanism behind the protective effects of smoking could be found in nicotine
Question: Can smoking help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Cannabis thus joins tobacco as a SARS2-CoV-2 risk factor.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: coronavirus will not go away on its own in warmer weather
Question: how does the coronavirus respond to changes in the weather
Evidence: Results indicated that temperatures had a negative linear relationship with the number of confirmed cases. The curve flattened at a threshold of 25.8 C. There is no evidence supporting that the curve declined for temperatures above 25.8 C
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Avoid medications to lower fever if sick with the new coronavirus
Question: Can taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) worsen COVID-19?
Evidence: There are clearly COVID-19 cases where NSAIDs should not be used, but there is no strong evidence that NSAIDs must be avoided in all patients with COVID-19;
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Masks do reduce spread of flu and some COVID-19
Question: How much impact do masks have on preventing the spread of the COVID-19?
Evidence: Notably, masks are found to be useful with respect to both preventing illness in healthy persons and preventing asymptomatic transmission. Hypothetical mask adoption scenarios, for Washington and New York state, suggest that immediate near universal (80%) adoption of moderately (50%) effective masks could prevent on the order of 17--45% of projected deaths over two months in New York, while decreasing the peak daily death rate by 34--58%, absent other changes in epidemic dynamics. Even very weak masks (20% effective) can still be useful if the underlying transmission rate is relatively low or decreasing: In Washington, where baseline transmission is much less intense, 80% adoption of such masks could reduce mortality by 24--65% (and peak deaths 15--69%), compared to 2--9% mortality reduction in New York (peak death reduction 9--18%).
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Unfortunately, to date, no vaccines or antiviral drugs have been approved for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection by regulatory agencies.
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: 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: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, is transmitted by person-to-person contact, via airborne droplets, or through contact with contaminated surfaces.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: clinical trials are needed to determine if endogenously created vitamin D could be effective for the prevention and treatment of 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: Refutes
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: Knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of viral cycles and immunity is an important prerequisite for the development of vaccination strategies and development of effective drugs.
Verdict: Neutral
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: Pre-existing comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease are associated with a greater severity and higher fatality rate of covid-19.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Scientists are endeavoring to find antivirals specific to the virus. Several drugs such as chloroquine, arbidol, remdesivir, and favipiravir are currently undergoing clinical studies to test their efficacy and safety in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China; some promising results have been achieved thus far.
Question: Are there any antiviral drugs to treat the coronavirus disease? 
Evidence: remdesivir, which has been previously administered to Ebola virus patients, has also proven effective in the U.S. against coronavirus
Verdict: Supports
Claim: If Fever Helps Fight Infection, Should I Avoid Fever-Reducing Drugs
Question: Can taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) worsen COVID-19?
Evidence: At this time, there is no supporting evidence to discourage the use of ibuprofen.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Get this checked by your doctor and use the correct dose to stay healthy. Get this checked by your doctor and use the correct dose to stay healthy.
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: Neutral
Claim: 5G caused the coronavirus outbreak
Question: Can 5G technology cause COVID-19?
Evidence: Content analysis revealed that, of 233 sample tweets, 34.8% (n=81) contained views that 5G and COVID-19 were linked
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: Most alcohol based hand sanitizers are effective at inactivating enveloped viruses, including coronaviruses.
Verdict: Supports
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: Dietary supplementation has not been linked to COVID-19 prevention.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: COVID-19 spreads by contact with respiratory droplets that spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Question: How can I reduce the risk of getting COVID-19?
Evidence: Protective devices must be used whenever there is potentially close contact with a suspect case, especially when the potentially infected person does not wear a surgical mask that could reduce the spread of viruses in the environment.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: VITAMIN D HEALTHY LEVELS decrease COVID-19 MORTALITY RATES
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: No drug is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for COVID-19, although dozens of candidates - including drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, parasites, cancer, and HIV - have been proposed
Question: Are there any antiviral drugs to treat the coronavirus disease? 
Evidence: there is no vaccine or antiviral treatment for human and animal coronavirus
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Dexamethasone do not cure the new coronavirus
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: Supports
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: Mortality was significantly associated with older age, lower body mass index, chronic renal disease, higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score, lower PaO2/FIO2 ratio, higher D-dimer, higher C-reactive protein, and receipt of mechanical ventilation, vasopressors, renal replacement therapy, or vasodilator therapy.
Verdict: Neutral
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: Wearing medical masks or N95 masks (namely N95 respirators) can slow the virus spread and reduce the infection risk.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: College students, many of whom are already stressed, reported an increase in depression and anxiety during the initial outbreak.
Question: How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted mental health?
Evidence: As a result of the emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in the Chinese city of Wuhan, a situation of socio-economic crisis and profound psychological distress rapidly occurred worldwide.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Scientists believe cannabis could help prevent, treat coronavirus
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: Refutes
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: 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: Neutral
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: diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol levels possess an apparent relation to COVID-19 severity.
Verdict: Refutes
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: Correcting for that distributed delay and offering conservative estimates, we find a negative relationship between temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius and estimated reproduction number ([R]), with each degree Celsius associated with a 3.1% (95% CI, 1.5% to 4.8%) reduction in [R]. Higher levels of relative humidity strengthen the negative effect of temperature above 25 degrees.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Can acetaminophen (Tylenol) treat the coronavirus disease? No
Question: Can acetaminophen (Tylenol) treat the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: Based on the evidence to date, there are several treatment options to consider for the relief of fever (acetaminophen, NSAID, oral glucocorticoids), cough (morphine), breathlessness (morphine, oxygen, fan), anxiety (benzodiazepines) and pain (NSAID, morphine).
Verdict: Supports
Claim: N95 masks are more effective than regular masks.
Question: How much impact do masks have on preventing the spread of the COVID-19?
Evidence: We make 3 key observations: 1. Masks, even with suboptimal efficacy in both prevention of acquisition and transmission of infection, could substantially decrease the reproduction number for COVID-19 if widely used. 2. Widespread masking may be sufficient to suppress epidemics where R has been brought close to 1 via other measures (e.g., distancing). 3. Assortment within populations (the tendency for interactions between masked individuals to be more likely than interactions between masked and unmasked individuals) would rapidly erode the impact of masks.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Get this checked by your doctor and use the correct dose to stay healthy. Get this checked by your doctor and use the correct dose to stay healthy.
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: Neutral
Claim: The high temperature and low relative humidity lead to high evaporation rates of saliva-contaminated droplets, thus significantly reducing the coronavirus viability
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: 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: 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: 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: Young healthy recruits often showed a mild course of COVID-19 with rapid symptom decline but were persistent SARS-CoV-2 carriers. This illustrates how asymptomatic patients may be responsible for covert viral transmission.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Surgical Masks Stop Transmission Of COVID-19 From Symptomatic People
Question: Does a surgical mask help avoid COVID-19?
Evidence: Surgical mask partition for challenged index or nave hamsters significantly reduced transmission to 25% (6/24, P=0.018). Surgical mask partition for challenged index hamsters significantly reduced transmission to only 16.7% (2/12, P=0.019) of exposed nave hamsters.
Verdict: Refutes
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: Notification of presumptive positive animal test results triggered a One Health* investigation by state and federal partners, who determined that no further transmission events to other animals or persons had occurred.
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: 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: 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: 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: No, garlic doesn't cure coronavirus. 
Question: Does garlic protect against covid-19
Evidence: 51% will drink ginger with honey and 42.7% eat garlic for infection prevention.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus
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: 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: it seems that high levels of urban air pollution, and climate conditions have a significant impact on SARS-CoV-2 diffusion. Exhibited positive correlations of ambient ozone levels and negative correlations of NO2 with the increased rates of COVID-19 infections (Total number, Daily New positive and Total Deaths cases), can be attributed to airborne bioaerosols distribution. The results show positive correlation of daily averaged O3 with air temperature and inversely correlations with relative humidity and precipitation rates.
Verdict: Refutes
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: 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: Refutes
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: We estimate an overall infection fatality rate of 1.29% (95% credible interval [CrI] 0.89 - 2.01), as well as large differences by age, with a low infection fatality rate of 0.05% for under 60 year old (CrI 0-.19) and a substantially higher 4.25% (CrI 3.01-6.39) for people above 60 years of age.
Verdict: Neutral
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: There is no therapeutic FDA-approved drug against SARS-CoV-2 infection, although a combination of anti-viral drugs is directly being practiced in some countries. 
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: mix and drink as hot tea every afternoon
Question: Can drinking hot green tea help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: The present study corroborates that compound "I" (EGCG) mostly present in the integrants of green tea, shows the highest potentiality for acting as an inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2
Verdict: Neutral
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: 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: the Covid-19 coronavirus can stay on various surfaces for a while
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence: We report here that pathogenic human coronavirus 229E remained infectious in a human lung cell culture model following at least 5 days of persistence on a range of common nonbiocidal surface materials, including polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon; PTFE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ceramic tiles, glass, silicone rubber, and stainless steel.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: hydroxychloroquine cures covid-19.
Question: does hydroxychloroquine treat COVID-19?
Evidence: hydroxychloroquine with or without azithromycin showed benefits in positive-to-negative conversion of SARS-CoV-2 (odds ratio [OR], 1.95 [95% CI,0.19 to 19.73] and a reduction in progression rate (OR, 0.89 [95% CI, 0.58 to 1.37]), but without demonstrating any statistical significance.
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 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: Refutes
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: At this point, the data here presented on hydroxychloroquine either alone or combined with azithromycin (together with previously reported in vivo data in macaques and ferrets) provide no scientific basis for further use of the drug in humans.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: masks protect you as the wearer and protects others
Question: Can face masks protect me from the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: We find that the critical mask adherence is 5 per 100 when 80% wear face masks.
Verdict: Refutes
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: Inefficient human-to-human transmission of zoonotic strains may initially limit the spread of transmission, but an infection may be contracted by touching contaminated surfaces.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: N95 masks are better than clothe masks
Question: what are the best masks for preventing infection by Covid-19?
Evidence: However, low quality evidence suggests that N95 respirators protect HCWs from clinical respiratory infections.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: covid-19 patients taking hydroxychloroquine do not benefit
Question: does hydroxychloroquine treat COVID-19?
Evidence: hydroxychloroquine with or without azithromycin showed benefits in positive-to-negative conversion of SARS-CoV-2 (odds ratio [OR], 1.95 [95% CI,0.19 to 19.73] and a reduction in progression rate (OR, 0.89 [95% CI, 0.58 to 1.37]), but without demonstrating any statistical significance.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: coronavirus is man-made
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: Refutes
Claim: Can coronavirus spread through food or packaging? No Absolutely not
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: Refutes
Claim: covid-19 increases risk of heart attacks and stroke
Question: how do people die from the coronavirus?
Evidence: Lack of personal protective equipment was cited as a common cause of death.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Can Nicotine Patches Help You Avoid COVID-19? The short answer is YES
Question: Can smoking help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Higher genetically proxied BMI and lifetime smoking score were associated with increased risk of sepsis in both UK Biobank (BMI: odds ratio 1.38 per standard deviation increase, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.27 to 1.51
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: the mechanism behind the protective effects of smoking could be found in nicotine
Question: Can smoking help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Statistical surveys of COVID-19 patients indicate, against all common logic, that people who smoke are less prone to the infection and/or exhibit less severe respiratory symptoms than non-smokers.
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: There are clearly COVID-19 cases where NSAIDs should not be used, but there is no strong evidence that NSAIDs must be avoided in all patients with COVID-19;
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) worsen COVID-19
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: Refutes
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: obesity represents the strongest predictor for Covid-19 followed by diabetes and hypertension in both sexes
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Dexamethasone do not cure the new coronavirus
Question: what evidence is there for dexamethasone as a treatment for COVID-19?
Evidence: The efficacy of dexamethasone in preventing mortality in critical Covid-19 suggests that inflammation has a causal role in death.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: So, COVID is killed by heat. That is why our bodies create fever to fight it off. When you take Tylenol or advil it takes away your fever and allows COVID its ideal environment. If you get COVID allow your fever to remain as long as it is not over 103-104 this is your body fighting the virus. 
Question: Can taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) worsen COVID-19?
Evidence: For NSAIDs, there is no clear scientific evidence linking ibuprofen and other NSAIDs to worsening of COVID-19; however, it seems prudent to continue them, if necessary to control pericarditis, and on the other hand, to prefer paracetamol for fever and systemic symptoms related to COVID-19.
Verdict: Refutes