jpd459/healthver_resplit_larger huggingface dataset:
Claim: Cause of Death in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients
Question: how do people die from the coronavirus?
Evidence: Respiratory failure has been cited as the major cause of death
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Vitamin C is significant to human body and plays a role in reducing inflammatory response and preventing common cold
Question: Does Vitamin C impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: Following a balanced diet and supplementation with proper nutrients may play a vital role in prevention, treatment, and management of COVID-19.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Vitamin C infusion is not approved as a standard treatment for SARS-CoV-2 and thus was not part of the hospital's COVID-19 treatment regimen.
Question: Can vitamin C treat COVID-19?
Evidence: combinatorial VC and GA treatment for COVID-19 was associated with elevation of immunity and suppression of inflammatory stress, including activation of the T cell receptor signaling pathway, regulation of Fc gamma R-mediated phagocytosis, ErbB signaling pathway and vascular endothelial growth factor signaling pathway. 
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Alcohol (beer, wine, distilled spirits or herbal alcohol) stimulates immunity and resistance to the virus
Question: Can drinking alcohol help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: While it remains much too early to determine precisely how alcohol use might affect risk for or progression of COVID19, any efforts to connect the dots from past alcohol research would suggest it wise for nondrinkers and lowrisk drinkers to maintain that status during this public health crisis.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: nearly 90% of patients hospitalized with coronavirus (COVID-19) had one or more underlying health conditions.
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: Infections with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 tend to result in milder disease in younger people, although it is unclear why.
Question: what are the mortality rates overall and in specific populations
Evidence:  The COVID-19 population-level mortality rate (per 100,000 person-years) increased with age: from 0.1 deaths among 30-39 year olds to 9.5 deaths among 80 year olds.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Nevertheless, COVID-19 deaths are less likely to be confounded by testing capacity since those with severe symptoms are expected to attend the hospital independently of the weather
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: Neutral
Claim: Do COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 mean the same thing? YES
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: People with type 1 diabetes are more likely to die of Covid-19 than those with type 2
Question: what kinds of complications related to COVID-19 are associated with diabetes
Evidence: COVID-19 patients with diabetes were more likely to develop severe or critical disease conditions with more complications, and had higher incidence rates of antibiotic therapy, non-invasive and invasive mechanical ventilation, and death
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Using masks in public may help reduce the spread from people who don't have symptoms. Non-medical cloth masks are recommended for the public. Surgical masks and N-95 respirators are in short supply and should be reserved for health care providers.
Question: Can face masks protect me from the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: Our results indicate that surgical face masks could prevent transmission of human coronaviruses and influenza viruses from symptomatic individuals.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Ginger can treat a coronavirus infection
Question: Does garlic protect against covid-19
Evidence: Hoaxes (such as eating garlic or citrus to prevent COVID-19) were detected in 15 videos (10.9%).
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Masks can be a source of infection for the person wearing them
Question: what are the best masks for preventing infection by Covid-19?
Evidence: Most hospitals have implemented universal masking for their healthcare workers, and the Center for Disease Control currently advises even the general public to wear cloth masks when outdoors. The pertinent need for masks arises from plausible dissemination of the SARS-CoV-2 through close contacts, as well as the possibility of virus transmission from asymptomatic, pre-symptomatic, and mildly symptomatic individuals.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Combining ginger with other ingredients, such as lemon, garlic, honey, or vinegar, will destroy the virus.
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: isolation during the pandemic may worsen or trigger mental health problems
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: masks can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and that the more people wearing masks, the better
Question: what are the best masks for preventing infection by Covid-19?
Evidence: Respirators such as filtering face piece (FFP) 2 masks were designed to protect HCWs, while surgical masks were originally intended to protect patients (e.g., during surgery). Nevertheless, high quality standard surgical masks (type II/IIR according to European Norm EN 14683) appear to be as effective as FFP2 masks in preventing droplet-associated viral infections of HCWs as reported from influenza or SARS.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: No evidence of cytokine storm in COVID-19
Question: what is a cytokine storm and how is it related to COVID-19?
Evidence: It has proven that COVID-19 infection in some elderly critical adults leads to a cytokine storm, which is characterized by severe systemic elevation of several pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: The sunlight has a huge impact on decaying the coronavirus
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: The results of a trial that found dexamethasone reduced the risk of death in extremely ill coronavirus patients
Question: Is dexamethasone effective for treating COVID-19?
Evidence: Many drugs have shown promise for treatment of COVID-19.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: pets are not able to spread the COVID-19 virus.
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: There is a significant correlation between low vitamin D levels and death from 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: Can Nicotine Treat COVID-19? Researchers Think So
Question: Can smoking help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Cannabis thus joins tobacco as a SARS2-CoV-2 risk factor.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: outbreaks of the new coronavirus will wane as temperatures rise.
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: COVID-19 originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, China -  and not naturally in wildlife
Question: what is the origin of COVID-19
Evidence: However, the source(s) and transmission routine(s) of SARSCoV2 remain elusive' (1).
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: As cold weather arrives, U.S. states see record increases
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: Can wearing a face mask protect against the 2019 coronavirus?
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: Neutral
Claim: Adequate Levels of Vitamin D Reduce Complications, Death Among COVID-19 Patients
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: Supports
Claim: wearing face masks in public reduced the daily number of coronavirus
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: Headache and feeling dizzy may be signs of coronavirus
Question: Is a headache sign of the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: Muscle injury or myalgia was the most common (19.2%, 95%CI 15.423.2%) neurologic symptom of COVID-19, followed by headache (10.9%, 95%CI 8.6213.51%);
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Is it true that using ibuprofen has been shown to worsen symptoms of Coronavirus? the short answer is NO
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: Supports
Claim: Do COVID-19 Face Masks Work If Kids Can't Stop Touching them? Yes, masks are still effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19, even if children keep touching them. 
Question: How much impact do masks have on preventing the spread of the COVID-19?
Evidence: COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV2 is a rapidly spreading global pandemic. Although precise transmission routes and dynamics are unknown, SARS-CoV2 is thought primarily to spread via contagious respiratory droplets.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: At present, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do not believe that COVID-19 is spread through food, however, the agency is continuing to investigate this new virus.
Question: Can COVID-19 spread through food?
Evidence: There have been no reports of SARS-COV-2 transmission by blood-feeding arthropods such as mosquitoes.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: SARS-CoV-2 is more stable copper and cardboard
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence: Most viruses from the respiratory tract, such as coronaviruses, influenza, SARS-CoV, or rhinovirus, can persist on surfaces for a few days.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: In rare cases, a coronavirus jumps from animals to humans. This is thought to have happened for the virus that causes COVID-19, as well as two other types of deadly coronaviruses, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). All three originated in bats. 
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: Nicotine Could Prevent the Spread of COVID-19
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: there is no evidence that COVID-19 can spread to people from pet fur
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: Refutes
Claim: Coronaviruses are common viruses that can infect humans
Question: what is the origin of COVID-19
Evidence: However, the source(s) and transmission routine(s) of SARSCoV2 remain elusive' (1).
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: having a healthy blood level of vitamin D help you avoid the intensive care unit and death if you become infected with 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: If you're uncomfortable, take acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or aspirin
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: Neutral
Claim: those who have a weakened immune system may be at a higher risk of developing a severe illness as a result of COVID-19.
Question: Does having a weakened immune system increase your risk of illness from COVID-19?
Evidence: these therapies may weaken the immune system and potentially place IBD patients at increased risk of infections and infectious complications including those from COVID-19.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: More Vitamin D, Lower Risk of Severe 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: Cannabis can be used as A Potential Way To prevent covid-19
Question: Can smoking cannabis (weed) help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Cannabis thus joins tobacco as a SARS2-CoV-2 risk factor.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: the use of ibuprofen and similar anti-inflammatory drugs could be "an aggravating factor" in COVID-19 infections
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: outbreaks of the new coronavirus will wane as temperatures rise.
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 13-17 cases/day with a 1C rise in temperature.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: A combination of two existing drugs is highly effective against SARS-CoV-2 in cell cultures.
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: there is a link between a potential vaccine and the rollout of 5G technology.
Question: Can 5G technology cause COVID-19?
Evidence: 5G communication technology has the characteristics of faster speed, shorter time delay and denser capacity. In COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control work, it can further improve the efficiency of doctors&apos; diagnosis, improve patients&apos; medical experience, realize the remote sharing of high-quality medical resources and real-time information exchange, effectively block the spread of epidemic, alleviate the shortage of medical resources and medical staff, and make the epidemic prevention and control more efficient.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Cold weather kills coronavirus 2019 and 13 other COVID-19
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: Refutes
Claim: Scientists were able to prove that the virus evolved naturally in animals before jumping to humans.
Question: what is the origin of COVID-19
Evidence: However, the source(s) and transmission routine(s) of SARSCoV2 remain elusive' (1).
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Antibiotics: Antibiotics work against bacterial infections, not viral infections like COVID-19.
Question: Do antibiotics work against the coronavirus?
Evidence: Teicoplanin, an antibiotic used to treat staphylococci infection, previously showed efficacy to inhibit the first stage of MERS-coronarivus viral cycle in human cells. 
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Can hydroxychloroquine treat COVID-19? No
Question: does hydroxychloroquine treat COVID-19?
Evidence: Among patients with COVID-19, the use of HCQ could significantly shorten TTCR and promote the absorption of pneumonia.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain may be early symptoms of coronavirus.
Question: what are the early symptoms of COVID-19?
Evidence: Gustatory Dysfunction as an Early Symptom in COVID-19 Screening
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: camostat mesylate inhibited infection of important target cells - human lung epithelial cells,
Question: are there any drugs that work for SARS-CoV or SARS-CoV-2 in animals?
Evidence: Thus, our goal is to test the most active antivirals identified in adequate animal models infected with SARS-CoV-2, to add more information about possible in vivo efficacy. In turn, successful antivirals could be tested in clinical trials as treatments for infected patients, but also as pre-exposure prophylaxis to avoid novel infections until an effective and safe vaccine is developed.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: the use of ibuprofen does lead to more sever coronaviru outcomes
Question: Can taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) worsen COVID-19?
Evidence: there is no supporting evidence to discourage the use of ibuprofen.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: The weather can affect the spread of coronavirus
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: alcohol-based hand sanitizers recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) are effective in killing the novel coronavirus.
Question: what hand sanitizers kill COVID-19?
Evidence: Most alcohol based hand sanitizers are effective at inactivating enveloped viruses, including coronaviruses.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: the addition of zinc to hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin was associated with a decrease in mortality in patients who were not admitted to the intensive care unit.
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: vitamin D3 is showing impressive effects in buffering the severity of COVID-19 infections
Question: Can I take any vitamins or supplements to prevent COVID-19?
Evidence: Evidence evaluating these supplements in COVID-19 patients is lacking, and providers and patients should not rely on dietary supplements to prevent or treat COVID-19.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: no studies have investigated the effect of vitamin D supplements or vitamin D deficiency on the risk of contracting the new coronavirus
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: Supports
Claim: Colloidal silver can cure COVID-19
Question: Does garlic protect against covid-19
Evidence: compounds derived from Allium sativum (garlic) have the potential to decrease the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and to reverse the immunological abnormalities to more acceptable levels. Allium sativum is suggested as a beneficial preventive measure before being infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: COVID-19 Patients Having Sufficient Vitamin D Experience reduced complications and lower mortality.
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: Several studies demonstrated the role of vitamin D in reducing the risk of acute viral respiratory tract infections and pneumonia. These include direct inhibition with viral replication or with anti-inflammatory or immunomodulatory ways. In the meta-analysis, vitamin D supplementation has been shown as safe and effective against acute respiratory tract infections. Thus, people who are at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency during this global pandemic should consider taking vitamin D supplements to maintain the circulating 25(OH)D in the optimal levels (75-125nmol/L).
Verdict: Supports
Claim: From a mechanistic angle, there are good reasons to postulate that vitamin D favourably modulates host responses to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), both in the early viraemic and later hyperinflammatory phases 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: Remdesivir, a drug that once offered hope against Ebola, is now in the spotlight as the only current effective medication for COVID-19. 
Question: is remdesivir an effective treatment for COVID-19?
Evidence: Currently, there is not any specific effective antiviral treatment for COVID-19.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: There are many things we can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus): washing our hands, coughing into our elbows, avoiding touching our faces, staying home if we're feeling sick and social distancing.
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: To analyze the effectiveness of social distancing in the United States (U.S.).
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Favipiravir may treat SARS-CoV-2
Question: Can favipiravir help treat COVID-19?
Evidence: No specific treatment has been reported.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: wearing a mask is effective in preventing COVID-19
Question: what are the best masks for preventing infection by Covid-19?
Evidence: three double-layer materials including double-layer medical non-woven fabric, medical non-woven fabric plus non-woven shopping bag, and medical non-woven fabric plus granular tea towel could meet all the standards of pressure difference, particle filtration efficiency, and resistance to surface wetting, and were close to the standard of the bacterial filtration efficiency; homemade masks using available materials can minimize the chance of infection to the maximum extent.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Lockdowns and Mask Mandates Do Not Lead to Reduced COVID transmission rates or deaths
Question: How much impact do masks have on preventing the spread of the COVID-19?
Evidence: We present two models for the COVID-19 pandemic predicting the impact of universal face mask wearing upon the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus--one employing a stochastic dynamic network based compartmental SEIR (susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered) approach, and the other employing individual ABM (agent-based modelling) Monte Carlo simulation--indicating (1) significant impact under (near) universal masking when at least 80% of a population is wearing masks, versus minimal impact when only 50% or less of the population is wearing masks, and (2) significant impact when universal masking is adopted early, by Day 50 of a regional outbreak, versus minimal impact when universal masking is adopted late. 
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Many diseases, such as the flu, are seasonal, with cases spiking when the weather is cool and dry.
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: coronavirus could be detected on these surfaces for the following amounts of time: Aerosols: up to 3 hours; Copper: up to 4 hours; Cardboard: up to 24 hours; Plastic: up to 2-3 days; Stainless Steel: up to 2-3 days
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence: Human Coronavirus 229E Remains Infectious on Common Touch Surface Materials
Verdict: Supports
Claim: The coronavirus may thrive in an environment of elevated blood glucose. People with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes might be at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
Question: what kinds of complications related to COVID-19 are associated with diabetes
Evidence: COVID-19 patients with diabetes were more likely to develop severe or critical disease conditions with more complications, and had higher incidence rates of antibiotic therapy, non-invasive and invasive mechanical ventilation, and death
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Whilethe lopinavir-ritonavir-, hydroxychloroquine sulfate-, or emtricitabine-tenofovirtreated group exhibited lower overall clinical scores than the phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-treated control group, the virus titers in nasal washes, stool specimens,and respiratory tissues were similar between all three antiviral-candidate-treated groups and the PBS-treated control group.
Question: are there any drugs that work for SARS-CoV or SARS-CoV-2 in animals?
Evidence: We show that a high (5106 pfu) and medium (5104 pfu) dose of SARS-CoV-2 induces consistent upper respiratory tract (URT) viral RNA shedding in both groups of six challenged animals, whilst a low dose (5102 pfu) resulted in only one of six displaying signs of URT viral RNA replication.  
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: the use of fever-lowering such as  paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) over-the-counter medicines to cope with COVID-19 symptoms is recommended.
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 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and should therefore be avoided in this patient population.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Cancer survivors and patients should be treated similarly to other high-risk groups since an overreaction from the immune system can lead to cancer progression if infected with the new coronavirus.
Question: Does having a weakened immune system increase your risk of illness from COVID-19?
Evidence: Studies demonstrate that COVID-19 is an immune condition which is marked by reduced lymphocytes and elevated selected proinflammatory cytokines. Similar immune expression has been demonstrated in pregnancy by several studies.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: there is no specific medicine recommended to prevent or treat the new coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 disease
Question: Can vinegar help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: In Unani medicine, during an epidemic, apart from isolation and quarantine, three measures are of utmost importance, (i) purification of surroundings using certain herbal drugs as fumigants or sprays, (ii) health promotion and immune-modulation, and (iii) use of health-protecting drugs and symptom-specific drugs. Drugs such as loban (Styrax benzoides W. G. Craib), sandroos (Hymenaea verrucosa Gaertn.) za'fran (Crocus sativus L.), vinegar etc. are prescribed in various forms.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Countries with hot weather have not reported cases of 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: Widely used drugs to control high blood pressure do not help protect against severe Covid-19
Question: what kinds of complications related to COVID-19 are associated with hypertension?
Evidence: Hypertension was associated with increased composite poor outcome, including mortality, severe COVID-19, ARDS, need for ICU care and disease progression in patients with COVID-19.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: New study warns of COVID-19 impact on cardiovascular health
Question: are heart complications likely in patients with COVID-19?
Evidence: Cardiovascular complications were mainly observed in the confirmed COVID-19+group, consisting of heart failure (9%), palpitations/arrhythmias (3%), stroke/TIA (3%) and pulmonary hypertension (3%). Cardiovascular symptoms such as chest pain (1%), myocardial injury (1%) and pericardial effusion (1%) were also recorded.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: The COVID-19 shutdown is making weather prediction more difficult
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: The virus that causes COVID-19 can remain more stable plastic
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence:  Susceptible persons who contacted these contaminated surfaces may transfer the pathogens to their mucous membranes via hands, leading to a risk of respiratory infection.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: There is no evidence that dogs or cats can spread COVID-19 to humans, but there are a few precautions to take.
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19?
Evidence: It is now accepted that the wild fauna, probably bats, constitute the initial reservoir of the virus, but little is known about the role pets can play in the spread of the disease in human communities, knowing the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to infect some domestic animals.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: camostat mesylate was active against other coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV. 
Question: are there any drugs that work for SARS-CoV or SARS-CoV-2 in animals?
Evidence: The results suggest the effectiveness of Ribavirin, Remdesivir, Sofosbuvir, Galidesivir, and Tenofovir as potent drugs against SARS-CoV-2 since they tightly bind to its RdRp. In addition, the results suggest guanosine derivative (IDX-184), Setrobuvir, and YAK as top seeds for antiviral treatments with high potential to fight the SARS-CoV-2 strain specifically. 
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Treatment for: COVID-19. Remdesivir is an investigational nucleotide analog antiviral in development as a treatment for COVID-19.
Question: Are there any antiviral drugs to treat the coronavirus disease? 
Evidence: This article summarizes agents with potential efficacy against SARS-CoV-2.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Surgical masks can prevent catching covid-19
Question: Can face masks protect me from the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: In this study, we demonstrated, using avian coronavirus of infectious bronchitis virus to mimic SARSCoV2, that medical masks and N95 masks remained their blocking efficacy after being steamed on boiling water even for 2 hours.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: No human-settled area in the world is protected from coronavirus transmission by virtue of weather, at any point in the year
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: Supports
Claim: both in the U.S. and globally, that social distancing policies led to a decrease in community mobility.
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: we do not find significant evidence that social distancing has resulted in a reduction in the number of daily confirmed cases. Instead, social distancing has merely stabilized the spread of the disease.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: the time between exposure and the onset of covid-19 symptoms-is anywhere between two to 14 days. 
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: The government of different countries has adopted various policies to contain this epidemic and the most common were social distancing and lockdown. Our analysis revealed that the measures can slow down the outbreak. We can reduce the epidemic size and prolong the time to arrive at the epidemic peak by seriously following the measures suggested by the authorities.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: It's unclear why taking an ACE inhibitor or an ARB might curb Covid-19
Question: are patients taking Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE) inhibitors at increased risk for COVID-19?
Evidence: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers are not associated with severe COVID-19 infection in a multi-site UK acute hospital trust
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: But there is no evidence that vitamin C can have an impact on COVID-19.
Question: Does Vitamin C impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: Dietary supplementation has not been linked to COVID-19 prevention. However, supplementation with vitamins C and D, as well as with zinc and selenium, was highlighted as potentially beneficial for individuals with, or at risk of, respiratory viral infections or for those in whom nutrient deficiency is detected.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: there is strong evidence that the covid-19 virus can spread through food.
Question: Can COVID-19 spread through food?
Evidence: Food systems at all levelsglobally, domestically, locally, and in the home are expected to be highly affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: The evidence we have is that people will be immune after a bout with this new coronanvirus
Question: Are you immune to COVID-19 after recovering from it?
Evidence: Contrary to this picture, we describe a case of a patient recovered from COVID19 pneumonia with positive serology, followed up by 6 negative nasopharyngeal swabPCR tests performed along 1 month, who later on, after exposure to the virus, presented another positive RTPCR test and a second IgM seroconversion.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Compounds in tea may help ward off cancers, but don't drink tea that's too hot, especially when drinking alcohol or smoking. 
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: In a disturbing parallel to H.I.V., the coronavirus can cause a depletion of important immune cells
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: A fever, cough, and shortness of breath are still the more common signs of COVID-19
Question: Is a headache sign of the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: Clinical symptoms included fever (100%), cough (69.6%), expectoration (43.5%), myalgia (26.1%), headache (17.4%) and dyspnea (17.4%), and the less common symptom was diarrhea (4.3%).
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Further studies are needed to understand if and how different animals could be affected by the virus and the role animals may play in the spread of COVID-19. 
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19 to people?
Evidence: Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is now a pandemic threat. This virus is supposed to be spread by human to human transmission. 
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Air Conditioning May Be Spreading COVID
Question: Does heat prevent COVID-19?
Evidence: The COVID-19 database of integrated TCM and Western medicine can be used to prepare for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: At this time, there is no evidence of transmission of the COVID-19 virus, a respiratory virus, through food or food packaging
Question: Can COVID-19 spread through food?
Evidence: For the time being, the possibility of transmission through the food sector is considered negligible
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Coronavirus may have originated in bats or pangolins.
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: Supports
Claim: As cold weather arrives, U.S. states see record increases
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: Face Mask Protect You From Coronavirus
Question: Can face masks protect me from the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: 2) addresses controversies surrounding the mask from perspectives of attitude, effectiveness, and necessity of wearing the mask with evidence that the use of mask would effectively interrupt the transmission of infectious diseases in both hospital settings and community settings;
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Social Distancing Prevent the Spread of Coronavirus
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: We use a simple log-linear model with intercept and trend break to evaluate whether the measures are effective preventing/slowing down the spread of the disease in Turkey.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Excessive alcohol use can weaken the immune system
Question: Can drinking alcohol help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Is drinking a healthy way of coping? No.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: The coronavirus made by human in a laboratory
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: There is no research showing that using or consuming any natural or herbal products, including essential oils, eucalyptus oil or witch hazel, will prevent infection with the 2019 novel coronavirus.
Question: Are there natural remedies that will prevent me from getting infected with COVID-19?
Evidence: Nature provides a huge reservoir of anti-infectious compounds, from which we can deduce innovative ideas, therapies, and products.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: The study, of 507 patients with confirmed COVID-19, found there was no significant difference in clinical outcome with the addition of hydroxychloroquine, either with or without azithromycin.
Question: does hydroxychloroquine treat COVID-19?
Evidence: The available evidence suggests that CQ or HCQ does not improve clinical outcomes in COVID-19.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: favipiravir may help remove the airway of the coronavirus (source)
Question: Can favipiravir help treat COVID-19?
Evidence: currently, appropriate treatment for patients with COVID19 is an ACE2 inhibitor and a clinical problem reducing agent such as favipiravir in addition to hydroxychloroquine and corticosteroids.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Further studies are needed to understand if and how different animals could be affected by the virus and the role animals may play in the spread of COVID-19. 
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: There is no evidence that dogs or cats can spread COVID-19 to humans, but there are a few precautions to take.
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: Refutes
Claim: Although Vitamin C helps us maintain good immune function, there's little evidence that it can prevent or substantially reduce either of cold and flu, and covid-19 diseases.
Question: Does Vitamin C impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: Dietary supplementation has not been linked to COVID-19 prevention.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Research on COVID-19 transmission dynamics has shown the value of masks in preventing spread of the virus.
Question: Can wearing masks help in preventing the spread of the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: This study 1) illustrates transmission routes of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); 2) addresses controversies surrounding the mask from perspectives of attitude, effectiveness, and necessity of wearing the mask with evidence that the use of mask would effectively interrupt the transmission of infectious diseases in both hospital settings and community settings; and 3) provides suggestion that the public should wear the mask during COVID-19 pandemic according to local context.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Cold weather and snow CANNOT kill the new coronavirus.
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: What happens to your airways when you smoke cannabis is that it causes some degree of inflammation, very similar to bronchitis, very similar to the type of inflammation that cigarette smoking can cause. Now you have some airway inflammation and you get an infection on top of it. So, yes, your chance of getting more complications is there.
Question: Can smoking cannabis (weed) help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Cannabis thus joins tobacco as a SARS2-CoV-2 risk factor.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: When infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, many people experience mild and moderate symptoms, but for some people infection can be severe or fatal. 
Question: will SARS-CoV2 infected people develop immunity?
Evidence:  According to this hypothesis vaccine formulations (tetanus, diphtheria, Bordetella pertussis) could be re-administrate after the first contact with Covid-19, better before the development of respiratory severe illness and of course before full-blown ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome). 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. 
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: doctors have been increasingly reporting cases of another battlefield raging within the body: the heart.
Question: are heart complications likely in patients with COVID-19?
Evidence: The clinical evidence in our study suggested that myocardial injury is more likely related to systemic consequences rather than direct damage by the 2019 novel coronavirus. The elevation in cardiac markers was probably due to secondary and systemic consequences and can be considered as the warning sign for recent adverse clinical outcomes of the patients
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Some people with certain medical conditions, such as kidney problems, cannot safely take vitamin D.
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