jpd459/healthver_resplit_larger huggingface dataset:
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: 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: Supports
Claim: hydroxychloroquine has not worked in treating 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: vitamin C prevent COVID-19, among other advice
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: In general, people with diabetes are more likely to experience severe symptoms and complications when infected with a virus. 
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: ibuprofen use is associated with worse clinical outcomes from covid-19
Question: Can taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) worsen COVID-19?
Evidence: Concern about the appropriate role of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in COVID-19 speculate that NSAIDs, in particular ibuprofen, may upregulate the entry point for the virus, the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) 2 receptors and increase susceptibility to the virus or worsen symptoms in existing disease.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: It's very important to do what you can to reduce the risk of you and other people getting ill with coronavirus.
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: Neutral
Claim: You can catch COVID-19, no matter how sunny or hot the weather is.
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: The fall will spread the COVID-19 pandemic along with colder 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: SARS-CoV-2 is more stable copper and cardboard
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence: the tested bacteria favor lower temperatures for their survival in dry environments
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: When going out in public, it is important to stay at least 6 feet away from other people and wear a mask to slow the spread of 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: Does A Cloth Mask Protect Me From COVID-19? Yes 
Question: Does a surgical mask help avoid COVID-19?
Evidence: Such transmission could be reduced by surgical mask usage, especially when masks were worn by infected individuals.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Antibiotics do not prevent or treat coronavirus disease (COVID-19), because COVID-19 is caused by a virus, not bacteria. Some patients with COVID-19 may also develop a bacterial infection, such as pneumonia.
Question: Do antibiotics work against the coronavirus?
Evidence: Teicoplanin, an antibiotic used to treat staphylococci infection, previously showed efficacy to inhibit the first stage of MERS-coronarivus viral cycle in human cells. 
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Nevertheless, COVID-19 deaths are less likely to be confounded by testing capacity since those with severe symptoms are expected to attend the hospital independently of the weather
Question: how does the coronavirus respond to changes in the weather
Evidence: the temperature changes retarded the growth rate and found that -6.28{degrees}C and +14.51{degrees}C temperature is the favorable range for COVID-19 growth
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: If you continue to smoke, you also have a greater risk for respiratory infections like colds, flu and also covid-19.
Question: Can smoking help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: At this time there is no clear evidence that smoking is protective against COVID-19, so the established recommendations to avoid smoking should be emphasized.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: The coronavirus pandemic, which has brought sickness, death, and disruption to daily life for millions of people worldwide, may also bring long-term mental health effects
Question: What psychological effects could the COVID-19 pandemic cause?
Evidence: Disease itself multiplied by forced quarantine to combat COVID-19 applied by nationwide lockdowns can produce acute panic, anxiety, obsessive behaviors, hoarding, paranoia, and depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the long run.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: But there is no evidence that vitamin C can have an impact on COVID-19.
Question: Does Vitamin C impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: Dietary supplementation has not been linked to COVID-19 prevention.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Acetaminophen, also called paracetamol or Tylenol, helps to reduce fevers and can definitely help manage muscle pain and body aches associated with COVID-19. Acetaminophen doesn't treat the virus itself, nor does it reduce the duration of your illness.
Question: Can acetaminophen (Tylenol) treat the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: The safety of NSAIDs, corticosteroids and renin-angiotensin inhibitors in COVID-19 is challenged. NSAIDs may interfere with the defense process against viral infection and are best avoided. 
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: early empiric short-term administration of HCQ in symptomatic individuals, may be a promising, safe and low-cost strategy.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: 5G technology is not linked to coronavirus
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: 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: a popular theory has linked 5G to the spread of COVID-19
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: 5G uses higher frequencies than 4G, which are dangerous and caused covid-19
Question: Can 5G technology cause COVID-19?
Evidence: 32.2% (n=75) denounced the conspiracy theory
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: homemade hand sanitizer will protect against wuhan corona virus
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: virtue of weather will not stop the spread of coronavirus
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: Supports
Claim: Recovery from COVID-19 can be especially difficult if you were admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). 
Question: Can people recover from COVID-19?
Evidence: Epidemiological, clinical and immunological studies from COVID-19 recovered patients are particularly important to understand the disease and to prepare better for potential outbreaks in the future.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: In an article released Tuesday by the U., health care professionals recognized these cardiovascular consequences in severe COVID-19 cases and it was more common among patients who are older adults and have known risk factors of heart disease.
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: while the hydroxychloroquine treatment caused no harm to patients, it was unlikely to be beneficial.
Question: does hydroxychloroquine treat COVID-19?
Evidence: Among patients with COVID-19, the use of HCQ could significantly shorten TTCR and promote the absorption of pneumonia.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: smoking is a plausible risk factor for COVID-19.
Question: Can smoking help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Cannabis smoking is linked with poor respiratory health, immunosuppression and multiple contaminants. Potential synergism between the two epidemics would represent a major public health convergence. Cigarettes were implicated with disease severity in Wuhan, China.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Social distancing during coronavirus Social distancing means limiting close contact between yourself and others in your community, even if you are not sick or at 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: 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: 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: 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: These results provide evidence for the relationship between several weather variables and the spread of COVID-19. However, the (conservatively) estimated relationships are not strong enough to seasonally control the epidemic in most locations.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: 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: 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: 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: Distinguishing pre-existing and de novo antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 will be critical for serology, seroprevalence and vaccine studies, as well as for our understanding of susceptibility to and natural course of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Nicotine may play an indirect role that makes it harder for the virus to gain to access cells
Question: Can smoking help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: In this case-control Mexican study we found that obesity represents the strongest predictor for Covid-19 followed by diabetes and hypertension in both sexes and chronic renal failure in females only.
Verdict: Neutral
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: 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: Blood Pressure Meds Can Affect COVID-19 Care
Question: are patients taking Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE) inhibitors at increased risk for COVID-19?
Evidence: among patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19, ACEI/ARB use was not associated with increased risk of hospital admission.
Verdict: 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: Our results indicate that surgical face masks could prevent transmission of human coronaviruses and influenza viruses from symptomatic individuals.
Verdict: Neutral
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: A principal defence against uncontrolled inflammation, and against viral infection in general, is provided by T regulatory lymphocytes (Tregs). Treg levels have been reported to be low in many COVID-19 patients and can be increased by vitamin D supplementation. Low vitamin D levels have been associated with an increase in inflammatory cytokines and a significantly increased risk of pneumonia and viral upper respiratory tract infections. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increase in thrombotic episodes, which are frequently observed in COVID-19. Vitamin D deficiency has been found to occur more frequently in patients with obesity and diabetes. These conditions are reported to carry a higher mortality in COVID-19. If vitamin D does in fact reduce the severity of COVID-19 in regard to pneumonia/ARDS, inflammation, inflammatory cytokines and thrombosis, it is our opinion that supplements would offer a relatively easy option to decrease the impact of the pandemic.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Nicotine may play an indirect role that makes it harder for the virus to gain to access cells
Question: Can smoking help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: At this time there is no clear evidence that smoking is protective against COVID-19, so the established recommendations to avoid smoking should be emphasized.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, also known as the new coronavirus.COVID-19 can have a wide variety of symptoms, including a sore throat.
Question: what are the early symptoms of COVID-19?
Evidence: Anosmia and ageusia have recently been hinted as significant early symptoms in COVID-19.
Verdict: Neutral
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: Amongst them, a popular theory has linked 5G to the spread of COVID-19, leading to misinformation and the burning of 5G towers in the United Kingdom.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: the use of ibuprofen does lead to more sever coronaviru outcomes
Question: Can taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) worsen COVID-19?
Evidence: It was recently suggested that ibuprofen might increase the risk for severe and fatal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and should therefore be avoided in this patient population.
Verdict: Supports
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: Food systems at all levelsglobally, domestically, locally, and in the home are expected to be highly affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: There is much more to coronaviruses than SARS-CoV-2. Coronaviruses are actually a family of hundreds of viruses.
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: supplements supplements like zinc, vitamin C, or herbals help with the coronavirus (COVID-19)
Question: Does Vitamin C impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: The majority of documents encouraged the consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods. Thirty-one percent of the guidelines highlighted the importance of minerals and vitamins such as zinc and vitamins C, A, and D to maintain a well-functioning immune system.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: 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: 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: Neutral
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: 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: Face Mask Protect You From Coronavirus
Question: Can face masks protect me from the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: We also demonstrated that three brands of medical masks blocked over 99% viruses in aerosols. The avian coronavirus was completely inactivated after being steamed for 5 minutes.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: And while there aren't foods that can prevent you from contracting COVID-19, there are ways to make viral symptoms less painful.
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: Supports
Claim: taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil), should be avoided when sick with the new coronavirus
Question: Can taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) worsen COVID-19?
Evidence: There are clearly COVID-19 cases where NSAIDs should not be used, but there is no strong evidence that NSAIDs must be avoided in all patients with COVID-19;
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Vitamin D : for prevention of Covid 19
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 coronavirus pandemic can be dramatically slowed, or stopped, with the immediate widespread use of high doses of 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: there is strong evidence that the covid-19 virus can spread through food.
Question: Can COVID-19 spread through food?
Evidence: Also, SARS-COV-2 transmission through food, food packages, and food handlers has not been identified as a risk factor for the disease.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: While coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mostly spreads from person to person, it can also spread from people to animals.
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19?
Evidence: It is now accepted that the wild fauna, probably bats, constitute the initial reservoir of the virus, but little is known about the role pets can play in the spread of the disease in human communities, knowing the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to infect some domestic animals.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: some people may experience heart damage that mimics heart attack injury even if their arteries lack the fatty, calcified flow-limiting blockages known to cause classic heart attacks.
Question: are heart complications likely in patients with COVID-19?
Evidence: Cardiovascular complications were mainly observed in the confirmed COVID-19+group, consisting of heart failure (9%), palpitations/arrhythmias (3%), stroke/TIA (3%) and pulmonary hypertension (3%). Cardiovascular symptoms such as chest pain (1%), myocardial injury (1%) and pericardial effusion (1%) were also recorded.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: The widely shared post also falsely claimed that hospitals in China were giving Covid-19 patients tea three times a day.
Question: Can drinking hot green tea help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: The present study corroborates that compound "I" (EGCG) mostly present in the integrants of green tea, shows the highest potentiality for acting as an inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2
Verdict: Supports
Claim: social distancing alone can stop the spread of the virus
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: Will Wearing A Face Mask For COVID-19 Also Protect You from covid-19 ? the short answer is YES
Question: Can wearing masks help in preventing the spread of the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: This study 1) illustrates transmission routes of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); 2) addresses controversies surrounding the mask from perspectives of attitude, effectiveness, and necessity of wearing the mask with evidence that the use of mask would effectively interrupt the transmission of infectious diseases in both hospital settings and community settings; and 3) provides suggestion that the public should wear the mask during COVID-19 pandemic according to local context.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin A and D, can be quite toxic at high doses, but vitamin C is reasonably safe as it is easily excreted
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: he coronavirus can spread more than 6 feet through the air, especially in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces.
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: Neutral
Claim: Covid-19 seems to most seriously affect older people, particularly those with pre-existing conditions such as heart disease, lung disease and diabetes.
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: Supports
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 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: The sunlight has a huge impact on decaying the coronavirus
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence: Contacting contaminated nonfabric surfaces may pose an indirect contact risk up to three orders of magnitude higher than that of contacting contaminated fabric surfaces.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Coronavirus: what is remdesivir and how effective is it against Covid-19? Remdesivir is an experimental antiviral made by pharmaceutical firm Gilead Sciences that was first developed to treat Ebola
Question: is remdesivir an effective treatment for COVID-19?
Evidence: remdesivir is not sufficient on its own and may be suitable in combination with other antivirals or treatments such as convalescent plasma.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: WEARING a face mask does help protect you from catching Covid-19 and from spreading it 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: 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: Currently, COVID-19 represents a health emergency worldwide, leading, in severe cases, to pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, multiorgan dysfunction or failure, and death.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: To be effective at killing some types of germs, hand sanitizers need to have a strength of at least 60% alcohol and be used when hands are not visibly dirty or greasy.
Question: what hand sanitizers kill COVID-19?
Evidence:  There is currently no vaccine for COVID-19, leaving governments and public health agencies with little defense against the virus aside from advising or enforcing best practices for virus transmission prevention, which include hand-washing, physical distancing, use of face covers, and use of effective disinfectants.
Verdict: Neutral
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: As COVID-19 mortality occurs mainly in elderly and as Africa has a comparably young population, the death rates should be lower than on other continents. We calculated standardised mortality ratios (SMR) using age-specific case fatality rates for COVID-19 and the age structure of the population of Africa and of other continents. Compared to a European or Northern American population, the standardised mortality ratio was only 0.22 and 0.25, respectively, corresponding to reduction of deaths rates to a quarter. Compared to the Asian and Latin American & Caribbean population, the SMR was 0.43 and 0.44, respectively, corresponding to half the death rate for Africa.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Studies have found that the sickest patients often have the lowest levels of vitamin D.
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: Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil) are both over-the-counter (OTC) medications that can be used to relieve pain caused by covid-19
Question: Can taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) worsen COVID-19?
Evidence: When compared with exclusive paracetamol users, no differences were observed in mortality rates or the need for respiratory support among patients using ibuprofen.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: COVID-19 come the Wuhan wet market that was initially blamed for the outbreak.
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: reinfection can not occur after recovering from an initial bout of COVID-19.
Question: Are you immune to COVID-19 after recovering from it?
Evidence: Contrary to this picture, we describe a case of a patient recovered from COVID19 pneumonia with positive serology, followed up by 6 negative nasopharyngeal swabPCR tests performed along 1 month, who later on, after exposure to the virus, presented another positive RTPCR test and a second IgM seroconversion.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic has a natural origin
Question: what is the origin of COVID-19
Evidence: This paper investigates the COVID-19 virus origin by using artificial intelligence (AI) and raw genomic sequences of the virus.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Another key sign of coronavirus illness: A loss of the sense of smell
Question: Is a headache sign of the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: A few hours later the patient experienced intense headache and developed fever, cough and severe dyspnea. 
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Spread of the virus happens when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, and droplets from their mouth or nose are launched into the air and land in the mouths or noses of people nearby. The droplets can also be inhaled into the lungs. 
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: Neutral
Claim: vitamin D3 is showing impressive effects in buffering the severity of COVID-19 infections
Question: Can I take any vitamins or supplements to prevent COVID-19?
Evidence: If vitamin D does in fact reduce the severity of COVID-19 in regard to pneumonia/ARDS, inflammation, inflammatory cytokines and thrombosis, it is our opinion that supplements would offer a relatively easy option to decrease the impact of the pandemic.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: The most protective masks, N95 respirators, block 95% of tiny particles, including viruses
Question: Can wearing masks help in preventing the spread of the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: Wearing medical masks or N95 masks (namely N95 respirators) can slow the virus spread and reduce the infection risk.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may be stressful for people. 
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: Neutral
Claim: Marijuana and COVID-19: What a Doctor Wants You to Know
Question: Can smoking cannabis (weed) help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Since many articles have reported the effect of smoking (tobacco and cannabis) and vaping in cerebrovascular and neurological systems, and considering that smokers are more prone to viral and bacterial infection compared to non-smokers, it is high time to explore the probable correlation of smoking in COVID-19 patients.
Verdict: Neutral
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: Vitamin D deficiency that is not sufficiently treated is associated with COVID-19 risk.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: favipiravir Protects Against Coronavirus
Question: Can favipiravir help treat COVID-19?
Evidence: In early research, the targeted antivirals remdesivir and favipiravir appear to benefit patients by decreasing viral replication; clinical trials suggest that remdesivir speeds recovery from COVID-19.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: hand sanitizer is  either unnecessary or ineffective in killing the novel coronavirus..
Question: what hand sanitizers kill COVID-19?
Evidence:  There is currently no vaccine for COVID-19, leaving governments and public health agencies with little defense against the virus aside from advising or enforcing best practices for virus transmission prevention, which include hand-washing, physical distancing, use of face covers, and use of effective disinfectants.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Dexamethasone is touted to help COVID-19 survival rates.
Question: what evidence is there for dexamethasone as a treatment for COVID-19?
Evidence: The efficacy of dexamethasone in preventing mortality in critical Covid-19 suggests that inflammation has a causal role in death.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: hand dryers are effective in killing the new covid-19
Question: what hand sanitizers kill COVID-19?
Evidence: The ongoing COVID19 pandemic has made various challenges for communications all over the world. Nowadays hand hygiene practices with alcohol sanitizers are an unavoidable reality for many people, which cause skin dryness and flaking.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Apple cider vinegar won't prevent you from getting COVID-19 or another virus
Question: Can vinegar help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Considering its potential benefits and high availability, acetic acid disinfection appears to be a promising adjunctive therapy in cases of non-severe COVID-19 and deserves further investigation.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can live in aerosols for up to three hours, up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel. 
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, is transmitted by person-to-person contact, via airborne droplets, or through contact with contaminated surfaces.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: cold weather and snow prevent the coronavirus disease
Question: how does the coronavirus respond to changes in the weather
Evidence: in northern China the negative effects of rising temperature on COVID-19 is counteracted by aggravated air pollution
Verdict: Neutral
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: In late December 2019 in Wuhan, China, several patients with viral pneumonia were identified as 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). So far, there are no specific treatments for patients with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), and the treatments available today are based on previous experience with similar viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and Influenza virus.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may be stressful for people. 
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: dexamethasone, a steroid commonly used to treat inflammation, can drastically reduce death in patients who are severely sick with COVID-19.
Question: Is dexamethasone effective for treating COVID-19?
Evidence: The dexamethasone was top-ranked in the prediction, which was the first reported drug to be able to significantly reduce the death rate of COVID-19 patients receiving respiratory support.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: There are antiviral medicines that can be used to fight some viruses, such as those that cause flu. However, scientists haven't yet developed antiviral medicines that can kill the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
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 and covid-19: enough evidence to recommend supplements
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: Influenza and the common cold are diseases spread person to person in much the same way as SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. So, efforts to reduce COVID-19 have the dual benefit of reducing colds and flu.
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: Neutral
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: 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: Vitamin D metabolites have long been known to support innate antiviral effector mechanisms
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: Neutral
Claim: acetaminophen can stop the new coronavirus
Question: Can acetaminophen (Tylenol) treat the coronavirus disease?
Evidence:  Studies show that ibuprofen and naproxen not only have positive effects in controlling cold symptoms, but also do not cause serious side effects in rhinovirus infections.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: In some covid-19 cases, older adults and people of any age with underlying health conditions may have symptoms that are not typically seen in others, or they may take longer than others to develop fever and other symptoms.
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: 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 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: Refutes
Claim: Is there a vaccine for the coronavirus disease? No
Question: Is there a vaccine for the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: In the meantime, prevention, control, active communication and investment in research are the only ways to overcome this challenge.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: The COVID-19 pandemic is having a significant impact on mental health
Question: How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted mental health?
Evidence: Psychological impact was assessed using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and mental health status with the Goldberg's General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). 
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: Thus, our goal is to test the most active antivirals identified in adequate animal models infected with SARS-CoV-2, to add more information about possible in vivo efficacy. In turn, successful antivirals could be tested in clinical trials as treatments for infected patients, but also as pre-exposure prophylaxis to avoid novel infections until an effective and safe vaccine is developed.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: he coronavirus can spread more than 6 feet through the air, especially in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces.
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: To analyze the effectiveness of social distancing in the United States (U.S.).
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: The novel coronavirus is a zoonotic disease, meaning an infection that can jump between different species
Question: what is the origin of COVID-19
Evidence: This paper investigates the COVID-19 virus origin by using artificial intelligence (AI) and raw genomic sequences of the virus.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Social Distancing Is Important to Combat COVID-19
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: Supports
Claim:  long-term exposure to PM2.5 air pollution, produced by sources including wildfires, power plants and vehicles, may make the coronavirus particularly deadly.
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: 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: 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: People who wear face masks are constantly adjusting them and touching their faces more often it actually increases my risk of contracting the new coronavirus.
Question: Can face masks protect me from the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: We also demonstrated that three brands of medical masks blocked over 99% viruses in aerosols. The avian coronavirus was completely inactivated after being steamed for 5 minutes.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Vitamins C, D can help prevent 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: Refutes
Claim: In general, the more closely you interact with others and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread.
Question: How much impact do masks have on preventing the spread of the COVID-19?
Evidence: Notably, masks are found to be useful with respect to both preventing illness in healthy persons and preventing asymptomatic transmission. Hypothetical mask adoption scenarios, for Washington and New York state, suggest that immediate near universal (80%) adoption of moderately (50%) effective masks could prevent on the order of 17--45% of projected deaths over two months in New York, while decreasing the peak daily death rate by 34--58%, absent other changes in epidemic dynamics. Even very weak masks (20% effective) can still be useful if the underlying transmission rate is relatively low or decreasing: In Washington, where baseline transmission is much less intense, 80% adoption of such masks could reduce mortality by 24--65% (and peak deaths 15--69%), compared to 2--9% mortality reduction in New York (peak death reduction 9--18%).
Verdict: Supports
Claim: there is neither harm nor benefit to treating a fever with fever-reducing medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Question: Can taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) worsen COVID-19?
Evidence: However, available data from limited studies show administration of recombinant ACE2 improves lung damage caused by respiratory viruses, suggesting ibuprofen use may be beneficial in COVID-19 disease. 
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: The coronavirus pandemic can be dramatically slowed, or stopped completely, with the immediate widespread use of favipiravir
Question: Can favipiravir help treat COVID-19?
Evidence: Herein, we examine the effects of Favipiravir (FPV) versus Lopinavir (LPV)/ritonavir (RTV) for the treatment of COVID-19.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Garlic can cure COVID-19.
Question: Does garlic protect against covid-19
Evidence: compounds derived from Allium sativum (garlic) have the potential to decrease the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and to reverse the immunological abnormalities to more acceptable levels. Allium sativum is suggested as a beneficial preventive measure before being infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Verdict: Refutes