jpd459/healthver_resplit_larger huggingface dataset:
Claim: 5G has no causal connection to 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: Supports
Claim: Should you wear a face mask to prevent COVID-19? Yes
Question: Can wearing masks help in preventing the spread of the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: Face masks are an avenue to curb the spread of coronavirus, but few people in Western societies wear face masks.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: The name of the new coronavirus that first appeared in China has been evolving to its now official designation: SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2).
Question: What does SARS-CoV-2 stand for?
Evidence: In December 2019, the world awoke to a new zoonotic strain of CoV that was named SARS-CoV-2 (standing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), which has been classified as a high-consequence infectious disease.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Social Distancing Key to Lowering COVID-19 Disease Risk
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: Our models predict these strict social distancing measures caused a 79% and 61% reduction in the daily cases of COVID-19 across Australia and New Zealand respectively. 
Verdict: Supports
Claim: vitamin D supplementation can reduce the risk, and potentially severity, of COVID-19.
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: A significant negative correlation (p=0.033) has been observed between mean vitamin D levels and COVID-19 cases per one million population in European countries.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: drinking tea may help prevent novel coronavirus infections has raised questions among the public and academics.
Question: Can drinking hot green tea help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: The findings of the present study need in vivo experiments to prove the utility of "I", "F","D" and "E" compounds and their further use in making herb-based anti-SARS-CoV-2 product in near future
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: You can spread the virus even if you do not have symptoms.
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: The COVID-19 shutdown is making weather prediction more difficult
Question: how does the coronavirus respond to changes in the weather
Evidence: These results provide evidence for the relationship between several weather variables and the spread of COVID-19. However, the (conservatively) estimated relationships are not strong enough to seasonally control the epidemic in most locations.
Verdict: Neutral
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: In this cohort of COVID-19 patients, Ibuprofen use was not associated with worse clinical outcomes, compared to paracetamol or no antipyretic.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Treatment with hydroxychloroquine cut the death rate significantly in sick patients hospitalized with COVID-19 - and without heart-related side-effects
Question: does hydroxychloroquine treat COVID-19?
Evidence: mortality rate was increased when the treatment was conducted with hydroxychloroquine.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Vitamin D deficiency may raise risk of getting COVID-19
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: testing positive for COVID-19 was associated with increasing age(RR(age<50)=1.05,p<0.021;RR(age[]50)=1.02,p<0.064)), non-white race(RR=2.54,p<0.01) and being likely vitamin D deficient (deficient/treatment-not-increased:RR=1.77,p<0.02) as compared to likely vitamin D sufficient(not-deficient/treatment-not-decreased), with predicted COVID-19 rates in the vitamin D deficient group of 21.6%(95%CI[14.0%-29.2%] ) versus 12.2%(95%CI[8.9%-15.4%]) in the vitamin D sufficient group.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Ibuprofen is an over-the-counter medication that people use to reduce pain, inflammation, and fever
Question: Can taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) worsen COVID-19?
Evidence: The Expert Working Group on the Commission of Human Medicines in the UK and other organizations have stated that there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between ibuprofen and susceptibility to or exacerbation of COVID-19.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: To practice social or physical distancing, stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms' length) from other people who are not from your household in both indoor and outdoor spaces.
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: Supports
Claim: COVID-19 affects only the lungs
Question: Which organs are most affected by COVID-19?
Evidence: The symptoms most commonly reported by patients affected by coronavirus disease (COVID-19) include cough, fever, and shortness of breath. However, other major events usually observed in COVID-19 patients (e.g., high blood pressure, arterial and venous thromboembolism, kidney disease, neurologic disorders, and diabetes mellitus) indicate that the virus is targeting the endothelium, one of the largest organs in the human body.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: gargling warm water with salt or vinegar can eliminate the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. 
Question: Can vinegar help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Numerous clinical trials have been launched to identify effective treatments for COVID-19. Initial data from a placebo-controlled study suggest faster time to recovery in patients on remdesivir; it is now being evaluated in additional controlled studies.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Warm Weather slow The Spread Of COVID-19
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: Neutral
Claim: there is a link between a potential vaccine and the rollout of 5G technology.
Question: Can 5G technology cause COVID-19?
Evidence: Findings revealed that belief in 5G COVID-19 conspiracy theories was positively correlated with state anger, which in turn, was associated with a greater justification of real-life and hypothetical violence in response to an alleged link between 5G mobile technology and COVID-19, alongside a greater intent to engage in similar behaviours in the future.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Some available medications can help alleviate mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms
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;
Verdict: Supports
Claim: People who are physically near (within 6 feet) a person with COVID-19 or have direct contact with that person are at greatest risk of infection.
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: social distancing is associated with a statistically-significant reduction in the doubling rate for all but three states.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: 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: We found no direct high quality evidence on whether N95 respirators are better than surgical masks for HCWs protection from SARS-CoV-2.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: The lower number of COVID-19 cases in tropical countries might be due to warm-humid
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: Vitamin D can Protect Me from Coronavirus
Question: Does Vitamin C impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: CONCLUSION The use of IV vitamin C in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 disease may be feasible.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Can Pets Spread Coronavirus (COVID-19) to People? The answer is YES
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19?
Evidence: There is evidence that SARS-CoV-2 can infect felines, dogs and minks, and there is evidence of human-to-animal infection.
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: 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: Hydroxychloroquine, by itself or with azithromycin, did not improve the clinical status of patients with mild to moderate COVID-19
Question: does hydroxychloroquine treat COVID-19?
Evidence: Despite its small sample size our survey shows that hydroxychloroquine treatment is significantly associated with viral load reduction/disappearance in COVID-19 patients and its effect is reinforced by azithromycin.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Drinking Alcohol Will Not Protect You From Coronavirus
Question: Can drinking alcohol help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Is drinking a healthy way of coping? No.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Sepsis is the main cause of death from COVID-19
Question: how do people die from the coronavirus?
Evidence: Respiratory failure has been cited as the major cause of death
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Although to date it is considered that Covid19 originates from bats (96.2% overall genome sequence identity) (1), the type of intermediate animals that caused the transmission to humans remains unknown (2-4)
Question: what is the origin of COVID-19
Evidence: Recent research results suggest that bats or pangolins might be the original hosts for the virus based on comparative studies using its genomic sequences.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Will domestic pets get COVID-19? No the domestic pets will not get COVID-19
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: Refutes
Claim: Some COVID-19 Patients' Immune Systems Turn Deadly The immune system is there to help us fight infection, but sometimes it wreaks more havoc than the disease itself.
Question: will SARS-CoV2 infected people develop immunity?
Evidence: In this study, we collected blood from COVID-19 patients who have recently become virus-free and therefore were discharged, and analyzed their SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody and T cell responses. We observed SARS-CoV-2-specific humoral and cellular immunity in the patients. Both were detected in newly discharged patients, suggesting both participate in immune-mediated protection to viral infection.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: But until we understand more about who is a carrier of COVID-19, the goal of wearing a mask should be to protect others from your own respiratory droplets. And any mask is better than no mask.
Question: Does a surgical mask help avoid COVID-19?
Evidence: During COVID-19 pandemic crisis, Italian Government has approved Law Decree no. 18 of 17 march 2020, in which art. 15 allows enterprises to produce, import and commercialize surgical masks notwithstanding the current rules of product certification. 
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: smokers less likely to catch COVID-19
Question: Can smoking help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Active smoking was associated with decreased odds of Covid-19.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: There have been several reports providing evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in household pets. 
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19?
Evidence: Although a few pets presented many clinical signs indicative for a coronavirus infection, no animal tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR and no antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were detectable in their blood using an immunoprecipitation assay.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Can Covid-19, the new coronavirus, be cured by garlic or garlic water? No.
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: Homemade face masks only offer a small degree of protection, but they may help prevent the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from asymptomatic people.
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: cloth face masks are not effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19
Question: what are the best masks for preventing infection by Covid-19?
Evidence: the American College of Physicians (ACP) provides recommendations based on the best available evidence through 14 April 2020 on the effectiveness of N95 respirators, surgical masks, and cloth masks in reducing transmission of infection.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: having an autoimmune disorder such as lupus increase the risk for infection by COVID 19
Question: Does having a weakened immune system increase your risk of illness from COVID-19?
Evidence: studies suggest that the resultant disease (COVID-19) is more severe in individuals with a weakened immune system.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Though vitamin C supplements are considered safe, according to the CDC, it's easy to consume all the vitamin C you need through your diet.
Question: Does Vitamin C impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: CONCLUSION The use of IV vitamin C in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 disease may be feasible.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Pet cats and dogs could transmit coronavirus to humans
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19?
Evidence: Although there is currently no evidence that animals play a substantial role in spreading COVID-19,
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: there is promising multidrug treatment against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus responsible for causing COVID-19 disease. 
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: But COVID-19 is not the seasonal flu.
Question: How does the coronavirus differ from seasonal flu?
Evidence: There are significant differences in the clinical and laboratory courses between COVID-19 and influenza.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: While sipping tea throughout the day could slightly stain your teeth, it may be worth it.
Question: Can drinking hot green tea help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: The findings of the present study need in vivo experiments to prove the utility of "I", "F","D" and "E" compounds and their further use in making herb-based anti-SARS-CoV-2 product in near future
Verdict: Neutral
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: Depending on the region we analyse, we find that face masks reduced the cumulative number of registered Covid-19 cases between 2.3% and 13% over a period of 10 days after they became compulsory. Assessing the credibility of the various estimates, we conclude that face masks reduce the daily growth rate of reported infections by around 40%.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: taking vitamin D would reduce COVID-19 hospitalisations
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: ecological investigation on 51 countries including 408,748 participants, analyses indicated no correlation between vitamin D levels and recovery rate (r= 0.041) as well as mortality rate (r=-0.073) globally.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: 5G has link to COVID-19
Question: Can 5G technology cause COVID-19?
Evidence: Findings revealed that belief in 5G COVID-19 conspiracy theories was positively correlated with state anger, which in turn, was associated with a greater justification of real-life and hypothetical violence in response to an alleged link between 5G mobile technology and COVID-19, alongside a greater intent to engage in similar behaviours in the future.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim:  While it has been established that the virus spreads through infected people, many people want to know if they can be exposed to the virus through the food they eat.
Question: Can COVID-19 spread through food?
Evidence: Agriculture and the food sector are critical to food and nutrition security because they not only produce food but also contribute to economic empowerment by employing a large share of female and male workers, especially in developing countries. 
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Coronavirus and COVID-19: Younger Adults Are at Risk, Too
Question: what are the mortality rates overall and in specific populations
Evidence: A confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection substantially increased the probability of death across all patient groups, ranging from nine (6 to 15) times the population mortality in 35-year old infected females to a 53-fold increase (46 to 59) for 95 year old infected males. The highest relative risks were observed among males and older patients.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: The rate of coronavirus cases per capita is still much higher among younger people than older ones
Question: what are the mortality rates overall and in specific populations
Evidence: A confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection substantially increased the probability of death across all patient groups, ranging from nine (6 to 15) times the population mortality in 35-year old infected females to a 53-fold increase (46 to 59) for 95 year old infected males. The highest relative risks were observed among males and older patients.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Cloth masks offer no protection from COVID-19
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: Refutes
Claim: COVID-19: Novel Coronavirus May Lead to A Cardiac Arrest or heart attack
Question: are heart complications likely in patients with COVID-19?
Evidence: The cardiovascular system is also affected, with complications including myocardial injury, myocarditis, acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, dysrhythmias, and venous thromboembolic events. Current therapies for COVID-19 may interact with cardiovascular medications.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: There is a simple way to boost your immune system and reduce your risk of respiratory illnesses, the flu, and COVID-19. Get enough sleep.
Question: How can I reduce the risk of getting COVID-19?
Evidence: To share a useful intervention to minimize risk of COVID-19 infection to both healthcare workers and patients in the eye clinic.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Obesity Ups Severe COVID-19 Risk in Young Patients
Question: are heart complications likely in patients with COVID-19?
Evidence: the greater susceptibility of individuals with underlying cardiovascular conditions to develop more severe Covid-19 with higher mortality rate is likely to be confounded, in part, by age and the type of co-morbidities. Patients with heart failure or chronic kidney disease might show an excess risk
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Tylenol doesn't work the same way as NSAIDs, and it's thought to affect the part of the brain that regulates temperature.
Question: Are Tylenol, Advil and Motrin effective and safe to take for COVID-19 symptoms?
Evidence: Clinical trials are not often conducted among pregnant patients for safety reasons and this means that drugs that may be effective in general population cannot be used for pregnant women due to the lack of knowledge of side effects in this category of people .
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Now a days, due to staying indoors, it is possible that you will develop the deficiency of vitamin D.
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: Neutral
Claim: Busting garlic cures coronavirus
Question: Does garlic protect against covid-19
Evidence: In conclusion, Allium sativum may be an acceptable preventive measure against COVID-19 infection to boost immune system cells and to repress the production and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines as well as an adipose tissue derived hormone leptin having the proinflammatory nature.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: COVID May Trigger 'Cytokine Storm' in Some Cases
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: Supports
Claim: Different variants of the theory exist. Some assume that not the coronavirus but 5G radiation is the real cause of COVID-19
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: The virus is man-made:
Question: Does Vitamin C impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: The majority of documents encouraged the consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods. Thirty-one percent of the guidelines highlighted the importance of minerals and vitamins such as zinc and vitamins C, A, and D to maintain a well-functioning immune system.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Young people are not immune from coronavirus and must avoid socialising and communicating it to older more vulnerable people
Question: what are the mortality rates overall and in specific populations
Evidence: A confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection substantially increased the probability of death across all patient groups, ranging from nine (6 to 15) times the population mortality in 35-year old infected females to a 53-fold increase (46 to 59) for 95 year old infected males. The highest relative risks were observed among males and older patients.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: While having diabetes may put you at higher risk for COVID-19-related complications, there are ways to reduce that risk.
Question: what kinds of complications related to COVID-19 are associated with diabetes
Evidence: Our data support the notion that diabetes should be considered as a risk factor for a rapid progression and bad prognosis of COVID-19.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: People wearing face coverings will take in fewer coronavirus particles, evidence suggests, making disease less severe.
Question: Can face masks protect me from the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: It would therefore be reasonable to suggest that consistent widespread use of face masks in the community could prevent further spread of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Although there have not been reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with 2019-nCoV, several types of coronaviruses can cause illness in animals and spread between animals and people.
Question: Can coronaviruses spread from people to animals?
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: Old malaria drug hydroxychloroquine may help cure the new coronavirus
Question: does hydroxychloroquine treat COVID-19?
Evidence: mortality rate was increased when the treatment was conducted with hydroxychloroquine.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Cytokine storm can severely damage lungs and lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome and death in covid-19 patients
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: Neutral
Claim: transmission from surfaces is much lower risk than person to person.  
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence: It was found that 83% and 77% of the bedside surfaces of MRSA-positive and MRSA-negative patients respectively were contaminated with staphylococci at 08:00 hours, and that the staphylococcal concentrations increased by 80% at 1200 h over a 4-hour period with routine ward and clinical activities.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Can chloroquine treat coronavirus? There's some very early science, but not a lot, to back the idea that this antimalarial drug might have promise against COVID-19.
Question: does hydroxychloroquine treat COVID-19?
Evidence: the use of hydroxychloroquine alone was associated with increased mortality in COVID-19 patients.
Verdict: Neutral
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: The ongoing COVID19 pandemic has made various challenges for communications all over the world. Nowadays hand hygiene practices with alcohol sanitizers are an unavoidable reality for many people, which cause skin dryness and flaking.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: dexamethasone is not a treatment for covid-19.
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: vitamin D supplementation could hold promise as a preventive or therapeutic agent for COVID-19.
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: The severity of coronavirus 2019 infection (COVID-19) is determined by the presence of pneumonia, severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (SARS-CoV-2), myocarditis, microvascular thrombosis and/or cytokine storms, all of which involve underlying inflammation.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Feeling dizzy can be a symptom of COVID-19.
Question: what are the early symptoms of COVID-19?
Evidence: In our cohort, ODs were an early symptom of COVID-19
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: COVID-19 pandemic has helped drive gun violence and increase killings 
Question: How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted violence in society, including violent crimes?
Evidence: Numerous articles have reported a decrease in reports of domestic violence since quarantine began
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Coronavirus may be more severe in colder months than warmer ones
Question: how does the coronavirus respond to changes in the weather
Evidence: The current study focuses on the relationship between environmental parameters and the growth rate of COVID-19. The statistical analysis suggests that the temperature changes retarded the growth rate and found that -6.28C and +14.51C temperature is the favorable range for COVID-19 growth.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Wearing a face mask keeps me from spreading the virus, so I don't need to worry about getting close to others
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: Refutes
Claim: hospitalized COVID-19 patients who were vitamin D sufficient had a significant decreased risk for adverse clinical outcomes and lower blood levels of an inflammatory marker (C-reactive protein), as well as higher blood levels of lymphocytes (a type of immune cell to help fight infection)
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: 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: Despite its small sample size our survey shows that hydroxychloroquine treatment is significantly associated with viral load reduction/disappearance in COVID-19 patients and its effect is reinforced by azithromycin.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Early symptoms in most COVID-19 patients include fever, myalgia, cough, and sore throat (5), which are common in other acute respiratory virus infections
Question: what are the early symptoms of COVID-19?
Evidence: Gustatory Dysfunction as an Early Symptom in COVID-19 Screening
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: surgical masks and N95 respirators should be saved for health care workers as they are more effective in preventing covid-19
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: Neutral
Claim: Frequently using hand sanitizer can help stop the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19
Question: Where can I buy hand sanitizer and if I can’t find it in the store, can I make my own?
Evidence: Particularly in situations like pandemic outbreak, it is crucial to interrupt the transmission chain of the virus by the practice of proper hand sanitization.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: There is no approved treatment for covid-19
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: Very often, people with covid-19 start off with minor physical complaints - slight cough, headache, low-grade fever - that gradually worsen.
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: Refutes
Claim: China Treating Coronavirus COVID-19 with Intravenous Vitamin C
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: Refutes
Claim: Surgical masks don't offer any protection for the wearer against the new coronavirus
Question: Does a surgical mask help avoid COVID-19?
Evidence: In high- or moderate-risk health care settings, observational studies found that risk for infection with SARS-CoV-1 and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus probably decreased with mask use versus nonuse and possibly decreased with N95 versus surgical mask use.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Lemon and hot water 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: Neutral
Claim: You can get the COVID-19 virus in sunny, hot and humid weather.
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: Neutral
Claim: A cytokine storm becomes an all-too-frequent phenomenon, particularly among the young. But treatments are being tested.
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: animals, such as long-haired cats and dogs, were more likely to catch the airborne droplets that carry the covid-19 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: There is no correlation between Vitamin D levels and Covid-19 infection risk
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: Refutes
Claim: The World Health Organization (WHO) has not officially declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a pandemic
Question: When was the COVID-19 pandemic declared?
Evidence: The World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020, has declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a global pandemic (1).
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: COVID-19 may be more severe in some people because of the medications they take should not stop taking their drugs.
Question: are patients taking Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE) inhibitors at increased risk for COVID-19?
Evidence: The present study has found that the use of ACE inh/ARBs therapy might be associated with an increased in-hospital mortality in patients who were diagnosed with Covid-19 pneumonia.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Treatment with hydroxychloroquine cut the death rate significantly in sick patients hospitalized with COVID-19 - and without heart-related side-effects
Question: does hydroxychloroquine treat COVID-19?
Evidence: early empiric short-term administration of HCQ in symptomatic individuals, may be a promising, safe and low-cost strategy.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Some HIV patients with 'powerful immune systems' may naturally clear HIV infections
Question: will SARS-CoV2 infected people develop immunity?
Evidence: In this study, we collected blood from COVID-19 patients who have recently become virus-free and therefore were discharged, and analyzed their SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody and T cell responses. We observed SARS-CoV-2-specific humoral and cellular immunity in the patients. Both were detected in newly discharged patients, suggesting both participate in immune-mediated protection to viral infection.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: apple cider vinegar can kill coronavirus, whether you do a shot of it or use it to wash your hands
Question: Can vinegar help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: As discussed in this review, till effective vaccines and treatments emerge, it is important to understand the scientific rationale of pandemic-mitigation strategies such as wearing facemasks and social distancing, and implement them.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: COVID-19 infections leave an impact on the heart, raising concerns about lasting damage
Question: are heart complications likely in patients with COVID-19?
Evidence:  consistent reports of cardiac injury and de novo cardiac complications, including possible myocarditis, arrhythmia, and heart failure in patients without prior cardiovascular disease or significant risk factors, are emerging
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Even younger people may experience a similar pattern of severe disease as older people
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: Even younger people may experience a similar pattern of severe disease as older people
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: 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:  However, wearing N95 respirators can prevent 73 more (95% CI 46-91) clinical respiratory infections per 1000 HCWs compared to surgical masks (2 RCTs; 2594 patients; low quality of evidence).
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: IL-17A helps trigger immune system response during early infection and INF-g combats replication of the virus. Higher levels of the two molecules may be associated with better outcomes in COVID-19 patients
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: Can wearing a face mask protect against the 2019 coronavirus?
Question: Can face masks protect me from the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: Surgical face masks significantly reduced detection of influenza virus RNA in respiratory droplets and coronavirus RNA in aerosols, with a trend toward reduced detection of coronavirus RNA in respiratory droplets.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: eating boiled garlic. drinking chlorine dioxide, an industrial bleach. Neither will cure the virus
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: Supports
Claim: There have been hints from lab experiments that increased temperature and humidity may reduce the viability of SARS-CoV-2.
Question: how does the coronavirus respond to changes in the weather
Evidence: COVID-19, due to its regular flu-like symptoms, is also expected to show similar seasonality and subside as the global temperatures rise in the northern hemisphere with the onset of spring
Verdict: Supports
Claim: washing hands with soap and water is the best way to get rid of germs in most situations. But hand sanitizer can help out, too, especially if it is alcohol-based with 60% alcohol.
Question: what hand sanitizers kill COVID-19?
Evidence: By extrapolating effectiveness of hand sanitizers on viruses of similar structure to SARS-CoV-2, this virus should be effectively inactivated with current hand hygiene products
Verdict: Supports
Claim: The name of the new coronavirus that first appeared in China has been evolving to its now official designation: SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2).
Question: What does SARS-CoV-2 stand for?
Evidence: The ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, which was officially declared by the World Health Organization.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Scientists now suspect this coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, originated in a bat and somehow hopped to another animal, possibly the pangolin, which then passed it on to humans
Question: what is the origin of COVID-19
Evidence: While this novel coronavirus disease (covid-19) frequently induces mild diseases, it has also generated severe diseases among certain populations, including older-aged individuals with underlying diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Vitamin D appears to play role in COVID-19 mortality rates
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: COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact (within about 6 feet) for a prolonged period.
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: Our models predict these strict social distancing measures caused a 79% and 61% reduction in the daily cases of COVID-19 across Australia and New Zealand respectively. 
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Exposure to the sun or to temperatures higher than 77 F (25 C) doesn't prevent the COVID-19 virus or cure COVID-19. You can get the COVID-19 virus in sunny, hot and humid weather.
Question: Does UV light help in preventing covid-19?
Evidence: Using published data from various sources it is shown that the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, is highly likely to be susceptible to UV damage while suspended in air irradiated by UV-C at levels that are acceptable and safe for upper-room applications.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: This means that antibiotics, which are designed to kill bacteria, simply don't work against viruses.
Question: Do antibiotics work against the coronavirus?
Evidence: Despite frequent prescription of broad-spectrum empirical antimicrobials in patients with coronavirus associated respiratory infections, there is a paucity of data to support the association with respiratory bacterial/fungal co-infection.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Vitamin D helps us fight 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: Masks offer no protection to the wearer
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: Refutes
Claim: Anything that covers my nose and mouth, regardless of how it's made, will keep me from spreading the virus to others.
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: facing the reality that there's no vaccine available yet to prevent the continuous spread of the novel coronavirus, coupled with the still increasing number of positive cases, and not knowing when exactly the virus will be defeated is a daunting prospect for many.
Question: How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted mental health?
Evidence: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has produced substantial health challenges from the perspective of both its direct health complications and the disruption to delivery of standard care for individuals with a range of acute and chronic health issues.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: As cold weather arrives, the number of covid-19 cases increases
Question: how does the coronavirus respond to changes in the weather
Evidence: We show that the delay between exposure and detection of infection complicates the estimation of weather impact on COVID-19 transmission, potentially explaining significant variability in results to-date
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: BCG vaccine may protect against COVID-19 infection
Question: can bcg vaccine cure covid-19
Evidence: MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the available literature regarding COVID19 and BCG vaccination.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: The Deadly Coronavirus can Be Carried And Spread By Your Pets
Question: Can coronaviruses spread from people to animals?
Evidence: Coronaviruses, which were generally considered harmless to humans before 2003, have appeared again with a pandemic threatening the world since December 2019 after the epidemics of SARS and MERS. 
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Some of the treatment Trump has received isn't even available to the American public. 
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: Neutral
Claim: social distancing involves staying away from other people in order to avoid catching or spreading a virus
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: Supports