jpd459/healthver_resplit_larger huggingface dataset:
Claim: long-term exposure to PM2.5 air pollution may spread the 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 13-17 cases/day with a 1C rise in temperature.
Verdict: Neutral
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: Face masks are an avenue to curb the spread of coronavirus, but few people in Western societies wear face masks.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Favipiravir at high doses has potent antiviral activity in SARS-CoV-2 infected hamsters, whereas hydroxychloroquine lacks activity
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: Supports
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: 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: Having a weakened immune system may increase your risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
Question: Does having a weakened immune system increase your risk of illness from COVID-19?
Evidence: Following the outbreak of a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), studies suggest that the resultant disease (COVID-19) is more severe in individuals with a weakened immune system
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Are there natural remedies that will prevent me from getting infected with COVID-19? No
Question: Are there natural remedies that will prevent me from getting infected with COVID-19?
Evidence: the current treatment options include hydroxychloroquine, tocilizumab, remdesivir, lopinavir-ritonavir (Kaletra), and nitazoxanide.
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: Together, this study suggested that medical masks are adequate for use on most social occasions, and both medical masks and N95 masks can be reused for a few days with steam decontamination between use.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: At the moment, [social distancing is] the only tool available to fight the spread of the coronavirus
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: The decentralized strategy is insufficient when used alone, but offers the best results when combined with the centralized one. Indeed, the (C+D) is the most efficient isolation strategy at mitigating the network superspreaders and reducing the highest node degrees to less than 10% of their initial values.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: young people of color, much like their older counterparts, have been disproportionately hospitalized from covid-19, compared with their White peers.
Question: what are the mortality rates overall and in specific populations
Evidence: As COVID-19 mortality occurs mainly in elderly and as Africa has a comparably young population, the death rates should be lower than on other continents. We calculated standardised mortality ratios (SMR) using age-specific case fatality rates for COVID-19 and the age structure of the population of Africa and of other continents. Compared to a European or Northern American population, the standardised mortality ratio was only 0.22 and 0.25, respectively, corresponding to reduction of deaths rates to a quarter. Compared to the Asian and Latin American & Caribbean population, the SMR was 0.43 and 0.44, respectively, corresponding to half the death rate for Africa.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: COVID-19 patients who took hydroxychloroquine were less likely to die
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: social distancing can not help you to avoid catching or spreading a virus
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: Supports
Claim: Face Mask Protect You From Coronavirus
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: Refutes
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: 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: the drugs do not increase the risk that hospitalized patients with COVID-19 will develop severe complications or die. 
Question: are patients taking Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE) inhibitors at increased risk for COVID-19?
Evidence: The present study has found that the use of ACE inh/ARBs therapy might be associated with an increased in-hospital mortality in patients who were diagnosed with Covid-19 pneumonia.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: The virus that causes COVID-19 can remain more stable plastic
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence: Surfaces near patients hospitalized with respiratory infections were frequently contaminated by pathogens, with Klebsiella pneumoniae being most common, highlighting the potential for transmission of respiratory pathogens via surfaces.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Vitamin D might lower the risk of viral respiratory tract infections like COVID-19
Question: will SARS-CoV2 infected people develop immunity?
Evidence: we discovered evidence that SARS-CoV-2, along with related coronaviruses, used mutations to evade attack from the human immune system. Overall, we present an immunological resource for SARS-CoV-2 that could promote both therapeutic development and mechanistic research.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: immunity to the new coronavirus may last at least that long.
Question: Are you immune to COVID-19 after recovering from it?
Evidence: we serially analysed immune responses in 113 COVID-19 patients with moderate (non-ICU) and severe (ICU) disease.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: mong Covid-19 patients in the study, those with extreme obesity - defined as a B.M.I. of 40 or more - were at nearly three times greater risk of dying than those of normal weight
Question: how do people die from the coronavirus?
Evidence: The cause of most deaths has been acute pneumonia.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Hydroxychloroquine not effective as a treatment for covid-19
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: coronavirus can not survive for up to 1 hours on plastic, and surface or fomite (contaminated surface) transmission is 'unlikely'.
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence: In this new study, human coronavirus 229E was rapidly inactivated on a range of copper alloys (within a few minutes for simulated fingertip contamination) and Cu/Zn brasses were very effective at lower copper concentration.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Can a vaccine from 1921 save lives from Covid-19? No Absolutely not
Question: can bcg vaccine cure covid-19
Evidence: Results fail to confirm the null hypothesis of no association between BCG vaccination and COVID-19 mortality, and suggest that BCG could have a protective effect.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin have been used to treat patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). However, Hydroxychloroquine it is not safe.
Question: does hydroxychloroquine treat COVID-19?
Evidence: hydroxychloroquine with or without azithromycin showed benefits in positive-to-negative conversion of SARS-CoV-2 (odds ratio [OR], 1.95 [95% CI,0.19 to 19.73] and a reduction in progression rate (OR, 0.89 [95% CI, 0.58 to 1.37]), but without demonstrating any statistical significance.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) didn't exactly say whether or how long you may remain immune to the Covid-19 coronavirus after recovering from an infection.
Question: Are you immune to COVID-19 after recovering from it?
Evidence: Recently, an increasing number of reports have indicated that a few patients who were believed to have recovered from COVID-19 initially tested negative but later tested positive.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: the virus could remain stable for long periods at 4 degrees C
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence: In this new study, human coronavirus 229E was rapidly inactivated on a range of copper alloys (within a few minutes for simulated fingertip contamination) and Cu/Zn brasses were very effective at lower copper concentration.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: smokers are actually less likely to become seriously infected with covid-19
Question: Can smoking help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Epidemiological and laboratory research seems to suggest that smoking and perhaps nicotine alone could reduce the severity of COVID-19.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: While this doesn't suggest cannabis should be considered a cure or treatment of COVID-19 on its own, it does suggest that it may have potential to help bring down inflammation and reduce anxiety in COVID-19 cases
Question: Can smoking cannabis (weed) help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Male, aged over 65, smoking patients might face a greater risk of developing into the critical or mortal condition and the comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory diseases could also greatly affect the prognosis of the COVID-19.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: The patients who received vitamin C did significantly better than those who did not get Vitamin C.
Question: Does Vitamin C impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: Although COVID-19 can be rapidly diagnosed, efficient clinical treatment of COVID-19 remains unavailable, resulting in high fatality.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: 5G uses higher frequencies than 4G, which are dangerous and caused covid-19
Question: Can 5G technology cause COVID-19?
Evidence: these patterns are not specific to 5G conspiratorial beliefs
Verdict: Refutes
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: 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: ne study of 489 people found that those who had a vitamin D deficiency were more likely to test positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 than people who had normal levels of vitamin D.
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: Vitamin D dose was not significantly associated with testing positive for COVID-19.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: COVID-19 is not the common cold (nor is it the flu) and science is still trying to understand how the coronavirus operates.
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: Neutral
Claim: 2 m, or 6 feet, do not represent a wall, but rather that behaviour can help minimize risk by increasing separation distances and relative position for longer conversations when masks are not used
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: drinking whisky can protect against COVID-19 infection.
Question: Can drinking alcohol help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Among the basic protective measures against COVID-19, the need to wash hands frequently and in a prolonged way using soap, and to regularly use alcohol-based hand sanitizers is well established for the whole population.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: If you're having breathing problems, get emergency medical care. Since COVID-19 is a viral infection, antibiotics can't treat it, and currently there's no cure. 
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: hypertension don't appear to increase the risk of more serious forms of the illness in covid-19 patients.
Question: what kinds of complications related to COVID-19 are associated with hypertension?
Evidence: obesity represents the strongest predictor for Covid-19 followed by diabetes and hypertension in both sexes
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: hydroxychloroquine could prevent or treat COVID-19.
Question: does hydroxychloroquine treat COVID-19?
Evidence: the use of hydroxychloroquine alone was associated with increased mortality in COVID-19 patients.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Can Pets Get or Spread COVID-19? No, they can't
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19?
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: Masks may increase risk of infection
Question: what are the best masks for preventing infection by Covid-19?
Evidence: Since droplet transmission is the main route of transmission, wearing a mask serves as a crucial preventive measure.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: drinking water every 15 minutes might flush out the coronavirus and protect you from COVID-19.
Question: Does drinking lots of water help flush out COVID-19?
Evidence: Basic hygiene interventions such as handwashing with water and soap (HWWS) when applied consistently will deactivate and remove the virus particles from the hands.
Verdict: Refutes
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: The decentralized strategy is insufficient when used alone, but offers the best results when combined with the centralized one. Indeed, the (C+D) is the most efficient isolation strategy at mitigating the network superspreaders and reducing the highest node degrees to less than 10% of their initial values.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: No drug is approved for covid-19
Question: Are there any antiviral drugs to treat the coronavirus disease? 
Evidence: antimalarial chloroquine and hydroxy- chloroquine, favipiravir and co-administered darunavir and umifenovir (in patient therapies) were also recently recorded as having anti-SARS-CoV-2 effects.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: It examined the susceptibility of a number of species to COVID-19, including cats and dogs, using a small number of animals.
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: Patients with sufficient levels of vitamin D are less likely to experience complications and die from 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: there is a link between [vitamin K] deficiency and the worst coronavirus outcomes
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: Data has shown that the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mainly spreads from person to person among those in close contact (within about 6 feet, or 2 meters). 
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: Neutral
Claim: Hand sanitizer can kill coronavirus-but that doesn't mean it should be your first defense.
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: Hydroxychloroquine has long been used to treat malaria as well as other conditions such as lupus and arthritis.
Question: does hydroxychloroquine treat COVID-19?
Evidence: We found that fatalities are 18.8% (9/48) in HCQ group, which is significantly lower than 47.4% (238/502) in the NHCQ group (P<0.001). The time of hospital stay before patient death is 15 (10-21) days and 8 (4-14) days for the HCQ and NHCQ groups, respectively (P<0.05). The levels of inflammatory cytokine IL-6 were significantly reduced from 22.2 (8.3-118.9) pg mL-1 at the beginning of the treatment to 5.2 (3.0-23.4) pg mL-1 (P<0.05) at the end of the treatment in the HCQ group but there is no change in the NHCQ group.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: The virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is stable for several hours to days in aerosols and on surfaces
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence: Surfaces near patients hospitalized with respiratory infections were frequently contaminated by pathogens, with Klebsiella pneumoniae being most common, highlighting the potential for transmission of respiratory pathogens via surfaces.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: COVID-19: The immune system can fight back
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: covid-19 patients of higher age and with preexisting chronic health conditions are at an increased risk of fatal disease outcome.
Question: how do people die from the coronavirus?
Evidence: Respiratory failure has been cited as the major cause of death
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: dogs or cats can spread COVID-19 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: social distancing does help prevent coronavirus (COVID-19
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: vitamin c helps a tremendous amount, but it is not highlighted because it's not a sexy drug.
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: Refutes
Claim: Because some of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, it may be hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone, and testing may be needed to help confirm a diagnosis.
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: Neutral
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 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: Refutes
Claim: To stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), you should avoid close contact with anyone you do not live with. This is called social distancing.
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: Discussion: The combined social distancing measures implemented by the Greek authorities within the first few weeks after the first confirmed case of the virus reduced the COVID-19 growth rate.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Smoking leads to lung damage, heart disease and cancer all health issues that make COVID-19 cases more severe
Question: Can smoking help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Higher genetically proxied BMI and lifetime smoking score were associated with increased risk of sepsis in both UK Biobank (BMI: odds ratio 1.38 per standard deviation increase, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.27 to 1.51
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Coronavirus is a hoax and part of a wider 5G
Question: Can 5G technology cause COVID-19?
Evidence: these patterns are not specific to 5G conspiratorial beliefs
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: hydroxychloroquine helped coronavirus patients survive better
Question: does hydroxychloroquine treat COVID-19?
Evidence: The available evidence suggests that CQ or HCQ does not improve clinical outcomes in COVID-19.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: animals develope fever as an evolutionary response to infection.
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: If needed, you may be given treatment to boost your immune system. For instance, lab-made antibodies can be given as an IV infusion so you have enough to fight infection. Reduce Your Risk for COVID-19
Question: Does having a weakened immune system increase your risk of illness from COVID-19?
Evidence: Following the outbreak of a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), studies suggest that the resultant disease (COVID-19) is more severe in individuals with a weakened immune system
Verdict: Supports
Claim: When someone who has COVID-19 coughs, sneezes, or talks, they send tiny droplets with the coronavirus into the air. That's where a mask can help.
Question: Can face masks protect me from the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: and 3) provides suggestion that the public should wear the mask during COVID-19 pandemic according to local context.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: The coronavirus may have been leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology
Question: what is the origin of COVID-19
Evidence: A novel coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome-CoV-2) that initially originated from Wuhan, China, in December 2019 has already caused a pandemic.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: the virus could remain stable for long periods at 4 degrees C
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence: The contaminated surface environment in hospitals plays an important role in the transmission of several key nosocomial pathogens including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp., Clostridium difficile, Acinetobacter spp., and norovirus.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: 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: 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: Supports
Claim: Evidence Shows BCG Vaccine May Help Versus COVID-19
Question: can bcg vaccine cure covid-19
Evidence: BCG might provide the protection against COVID-19, with consequent less COVID-19 infection and deaths and more rapid recovery.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: One mostly overlooked factor that could influence outcome of COVID-19 is the relative vitamin D status of populations.
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: Vitamin D can Help With Covid-19 Coronavirus
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: In the public mind, the origin story of coronavirus seems well fixed: in late 2019 someone at the now world-famous Huanan seafood market in Wuhan was infected with a virus from an animal
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: Respiratory failure is a Common Cause of Death in Critically Ill Coronavirus Patients
Question: how do people die from the coronavirus?
Evidence: Lack of personal protective equipment was cited as a common cause of death.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Hydroxychloroquine has been touted as a possible treatment for COVID-19 but it remains controversial as some experts believe it is unproven and may not be effective.
Question: does hydroxychloroquine treat COVID-19?
Evidence: There is theoretical, experimental, preclinical and clinical evidence of the effectiveness of chloroquine in patients affected with COVID-19. 
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: There is no scientific evidence that 5G towers are causing COVID-19 symptoms or that 5G radiation is making people more susceptible to SARS-CoV2 infections. 
Question: Can 5G technology cause COVID-19?
Evidence: BACKGROUND: Since the beginning of December 2019, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has spread rapidly around the world, which has led to increased discussions across online platforms.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: drinking five cups of black tea a day quadrupled the body's immune defense system after two weeks, probably because of theanine.
Question: Can drinking hot green tea help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: COVID-19 is usually caused a virus to which most probably the people with low immunity response are being affected. Plant-based foods increased the intestinal beneficial bacteria which are helpful and make up of 85% of the immune system. 
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: vitamin D supplements can prevent coronavirus
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: testing positive for COVID-19 was associated with increasing age(RR(age<50)=1.05,p<0.021;RR(age[]50)=1.02,p<0.064)), non-white race(RR=2.54,p<0.01) and being likely vitamin D deficient (deficient/treatment-not-increased:RR=1.77,p<0.02) as compared to likely vitamin D sufficient(not-deficient/treatment-not-decreased), with predicted COVID-19 rates in the vitamin D deficient group of 21.6%(95%CI[14.0%-29.2%] ) versus 12.2%(95%CI[8.9%-15.4%]) in the vitamin D sufficient group.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Cold weather and snow CANNOT kill the new coronavirus.
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: Vitamin D can Help With Covid-19 Coronavirus
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: quercetin and vitamin C is a potential COVID-19 therapy
Question: Does Vitamin C impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: We identified a total of 17 patients who received IV vitamin C for COVID-19. The inpatient mortality rate in this series was 12% with 17.6% rates of intubation and mechanical ventilation. We noted a significant decrease in inflammatory markers, including ferritin and D-dimer, and a trend to decreasing FiO2 requirements, after vitamin C administration. 
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Asymptomatic means you don't have symptoms, but you're infected with the virus.
Question: what is known about people that have COVID-19 without any symptoms?
Evidence: Young healthy recruits often showed a mild course of COVID-19 with rapid symptom decline but were persistent SARS-CoV-2 carriers. This illustrates how asymptomatic patients may be responsible for covert viral transmission.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: record increases in COVID-19 cases where chilly weather.
Question: how does the coronavirus respond to changes in the weather
Evidence: Results indicated that temperatures had a negative linear relationship with the number of confirmed cases.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: A COVID-19 vaccine is a biotechnology product intended to provide acquired immunity against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Question: What vaccine candidates are being tested for Covid-19?
Evidence: Our findings may contribute to the design of an efficacious vaccine against COVID-19.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: And there is no clear guideline for how to social distance that can reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19.
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: using Vitamin D can prevent or lessen the impact of Covid-19
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: Vitamin D dose was not significantly associated with testing positive for COVID-19.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Face masks might reduce coronavirus spread
Question: Can face masks protect me from the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: Wearing medical masks or N95 masks (namely N95 respirators) can slow the virus spread and reduce the infection risk.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: 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: little attention has been paid to food safety and its potential linkage with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Verdict: Neutral
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: stronger social distancing, e.g., cutting 75% of social ties, can reduce the outbreak by 75% for the C isolation, by 33% for the D isolation, and by 87% for the (C+D) isolation strategy.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Ginger, garlic, others can fight COVID-19 symptoms
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: pet cats and dogs can not get COVID-19 from their owners
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19?
Evidence: Humans showing clinical symptoms of respiratory infections have been undergoing for COVID-19 diagnostic test but many infected people and few pets confirmed with SARS-CoV-2 remained asymptomatic. 
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: 2 m, or 6 feet, do not represent a wall, but rather that behaviour can help minimize risk by increasing separation distances and relative position for longer conversations when masks are not used
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: The Australian and New Zealand governments both initiated strict social distancing measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in late March. It remains difficult to quantify the impact this had in reducing the spread of the virus.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: hypertension don't appear to increase the risk of more serious forms of the illness in covid-19 patients.
Question: what kinds of complications related to COVID-19 are associated with hypertension?
Evidence: hypertension may be an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality in patients with COVID-19. Patients who previously used RAAS inhibitors may have a better prognosis.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Seasonality of SARS-CoV-2: COVID-19 will go away on its own in warmer weather.
Question: how does the coronavirus respond to changes in the weather
Evidence: Being a novel pandemic coronavirus version, it might be ongoing during summer conditions associated with higher air temperatures, low relative humidity and precipitation levels.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: A face shield is a clear plastic shield covering the entire front of the face, and people are wondering if it offers better protection against the coronavirus than a face mask
Question: Can face masks protect me from the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: Wearing medical masks or N95 masks (namely N95 respirators) can slow the virus spread and reduce the infection risk.
Verdict: Neutral
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: Our results indicate that surgical face masks could prevent transmission of human coronaviruses and influenza viruses from symptomatic individuals.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Nor was it known that some people have COVID-19 but don't have any symptoms.
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: Neutral
Claim: inhibitors of endosomal acidification fusion (chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine) and redox enzymes (auranofin) used to treat rheumatoid arthritis have shown promising results against SARS-CoV-2 
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: it may be difficult for COVID-19 to spread in the areas with high UV-B radiation.
Question: how does the coronavirus respond to changes in the weather
Evidence: Preliminary observations from our team and others suggest that temperature and climatological factors could influence the spread of this novel coronavirus
Verdict: Supports
Claim: The COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel (the Panel) recommends against the use of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine with or without azithromycin for the treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients (AI).
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: Blood clotting a significant cause of death in patients with COVID-19
Question: how do people die from the coronavirus?
Evidence: Compared to the recovered group, more patients in the death group exhibited characteristics of advanced age, pre-existing comorbidities, dyspnea, oxygen saturation decrease, increased WBC count, decreased lymphocytes, and elevated CRP levels.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: smokers less likely to catch COVID-19
Question: Can smoking help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Epidemiological and laboratory research seems to suggest that smoking and perhaps nicotine alone could reduce the severity of COVID-19.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Taking a hot bath will not prevent you from catching COVID-19.
Question: Does heat prevent COVID-19?
Evidence: Of note, 44.12% of the detected IgM levels were dropped below the cutoff value after heating, suggesting heat inactivation can lead to false-negative results of these samples.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Note: SARS-CoV-2 is the name of the virus, COVID-19 is the name of the illness.
Question: Do COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 mean the same thing?
Evidence: The recent global outbreak of viral pneumonia designated as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) by coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has threatened global public health and urged to investigate its source. 
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Cloth masks help protect others from contracting covid-19
Question: How much impact do masks have on preventing the spread of the COVID-19?
Evidence: We recommend immediate mask wearing recommendations, official guidelines for correct use, and awareness campaigns to shift masking mindsets away from pure self-protection, towards aspirational goals of responsibly protecting one's community.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Evidence Shows BCG Vaccine May Help Versus COVID-19
Question: can bcg vaccine cure covid-19
Evidence: it has been shown that Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) might protect against COVID-19.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: coronavirus can live on your clothes and shoes
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: 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: the use of hydroxychloroquine alone was associated with increased mortality in COVID-19 patients.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Social distancing reduces mobility that can cause COVID-19 spread
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. This provides both evidence and impetus for governments considering similar measures in response to COVID-19 and other pandemics.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: patients with sufficient vitamin D levels had lower risk of death or severe COVID-19 complications.
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: If you are found to be infected with a common coronavirus (229E, NL63, OC43, and HKU1), that does not mean you are infected with the 2019 novel coronavirus.
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: Some people claim taking apple cider vinegar for kidney stones can help dissolve current stones and prevent future ones.
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: getting coronavirus from another person remains by far the most likely route of infection
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence: In this new study, human coronavirus 229E was rapidly inactivated on a range of copper alloys (within a few minutes for simulated fingertip contamination) and Cu/Zn brasses were very effective at lower copper concentration.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: COVID-19 takes mental toll on youth, minorities, essential workers
Question: How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted mental health?
Evidence: The COVID-19 pandemic and associated physical isolation practices are likely to result in a range of mental health and psychosocial challenges.
Verdict: Supports
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: 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: Neutral
Claim: study explores possible link between COVID-19 and vitamin d
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: In Middle East, the recovery rate (r= 0.267) and mortality rate (r= -0.217) showed a medium correlation.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: here is currently no evidence that animals, including pets, can be infected with the coronavirus, and no evidence that animals can spread the virus
Question: Can pets get the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)--the virus that causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19)--has been detected in domestic dogs and cats, raising concerns of transmission from, to, or between these animals.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: More Vitamin D, Lower Risk of Severe 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: hand sanitizer is  either unnecessary or ineffective in killing the novel coronavirus..
Question: what hand sanitizers kill COVID-19?
Evidence: Efficient SARS-CoV-2 inactivation was demonstrated for all tested alcohol-based disinfectants. These findings show the successful inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 for the first time and provide confidence in its use for the control of COVID-19.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Some groups may face a disproportionate mental health impact during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Question: How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted mental health?
Evidence: As a result of the emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in the Chinese city of Wuhan, a situation of socio-economic crisis and profound psychological distress rapidly occurred worldwide.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Currently there is no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with food.
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: People with diabetes do not face a higher chance of experiencing serious complications from COVID-19.
Question: what kinds of complications related to COVID-19 are associated with diabetes
Evidence: Type 2 diabetic patients were more susceptible to COVID-19 than overall population, which might be associated with hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: COVID-19 patients who are 80 or older are hundreds of times more likely to die than those under 40. That's partly because they are more likely to have underlying conditions - like diabetes and lung disease - that seem to make the body more vulnerable to COVID-19.
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: Vitamin D can Help With Covid-19 Coronavirus
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: While the influenza A virus only survived for about 1.8 hours on skin, COVID-19 lived on for about 9 hours
Question: how does the coronavirus respond to changes in the weather
Evidence: In the southern cities, the ambient temperature and air pollution have a negative interactive effect on COVID-19 transmission, implying that rising temperature restrains the facilitating effects of air pollution and that they jointly lead to a decrease in new confirmed cases.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Vitamin D can help combat the coronavirus
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: a small reverse correlation between mortality rate and vitamin D status was observed throughout the globe (r= -0.177). In Asia, a medium direct correlation was observed for recovery rate (r= 0.317) and a significant reveres correlation for mortality rate (r= -0.700) with vitamin D status in such patients.
Verdict: Refutes