jpd459/healthver_resplit_larger huggingface dataset:
Claim: Pet cats and dogs could transmit coronavirus to humans
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19?
Evidence: Cellular angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the receptor of SARS-CoV-2 which is identical or similar in different species of animals such as pigs, ferrets, cats, orangutans, monkeys, and humans. Moreover, a recent study predicted that dog might be secondary host during the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 from bat to human. Therefore, there is a possibility of spreading SARS-CoV-2 through domestic pets.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Wearing masks really wasn't protective after the symptoms started
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: 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: Myocardial injury is significantly associated with fatal outcome of COVID-19, while the prognosis of patients with underlying CVD but without myocardial injury is relatively favorable. Myocardial injury is associated with cardiac dysfunction and arrhythmias. Inflammation may be a potential mechanism for myocardial injury.
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: HCQ should be prescribed as a part of treatment for critically ill COVID-19 patients, with possible outcome of saving lives.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Vitamin D and COVID-19: Could low vitamin D levels affect coronavirus
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: A significant negative correlation (p=0.033) has been observed between mean vitamin D levels and COVID-19 cases per one million population in European countries.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: The discovery of angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) as the receptor for SARS- CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2) has implicated the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and respiratory failure in patients with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19).
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: Neutral
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: To analyze the effectiveness of social distancing in the United States (U.S.).
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Face masks offer little protection against 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: Supports
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: 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: People with untreated vitamin D deficiency are more likely to test positive for the COVID-19
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: CORONAVIRUS first emerged from a seafood market in the Chinese city of Wuhan but that theory has been challenged.
Question: what is the origin of COVID-19
Evidence: The COVID19, which appeared to originate in China in December 2019, has spread worldwide pandemically.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: smoking is a plausible risk factor for COVID-19.
Question: Can smoking help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence:  Data indicate CVIR demonstrates significant trends across cannabis use intensity quintiles and with relaxed cannabis legislation. Recent cannabis use is independently predictive of CVIR in bivariate and multivariable adjusted models and intensity of use is interactively significant. 
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Coronavirus definition is - any of a family (Coronaviridae) of large single-stranded RNA viruses that have a lipid envelope studded with club-shaped spike proteins, infect birds and many mammals including humans, and include the causative agents of MERS, SARS, and COVID-19 -abbreviation CoV, CV.
Question: what is the origin of COVID-19
Evidence: Although to date it is considered that Covid19 originates from bats (96.2% overall genome sequence identity) (1), the type of intermediate animals that caused the transmission to humans remains unknown (2-4).
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Vitamin D and COVID-19: Could low vitamin D levels affect 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: Neutral
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: Access to safe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services have been recognized as a highly precautionary measure essential to protecting human health during this COVID-19 outbreak.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: cancer patients are highly vulnerable to COVID-19.
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: The decentralized strategy is insufficient when used alone, but offers the best results when combined with the centralized one. Indeed, the (C+D) is the most efficient isolation strategy at mitigating the network superspreaders and reducing the highest node degrees to less than 10% of their initial values.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Does nicotine protect against coronavirus? Not exactly.
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: drinking alcohol does not protect you against COVID-19 and can be dangerous.
Question: Can drinking alcohol help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: It's already known that disaster can result in increased alcohol consumption
Verdict: Supports
Claim: For example, a cloth mask with only one layer of fabric isn't considered as robust as a cloth mask with three layers and a filter. 
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: host immunity to this unpredictable and highly contagious virus may not be fleeting and may be similar to that elicited by most other viral infections
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: 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: After the emergence of a novel coronavirus named SARSCoV2, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19) was initially characterized by fever, sore throat, cough, and dyspnea, mainly manifestations of respiratory system. 
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: COVID-19 is a seasonal disease
Question: how does the coronavirus respond to changes in the weather
Evidence: Correcting for that distributed delay and offering conservative estimates, we find a negative relationship between temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius and estimated reproduction number ([R]), with each degree Celsius associated with a 3.1% (95% CI, 1.5% to 4.8%) reduction in [R]. Higher levels of relative humidity strengthen the negative effect of temperature above 25 degrees.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Asking everyone to wear cloth masks can help reduce the spread of the virus by people who have COVID-19 but don't realize it
Question: what are the best masks for preventing infection by Covid-19?
Evidence: Respirators such as filtering face piece (FFP) 2 masks were designed to protect HCWs, while surgical masks were originally intended to protect patients (e.g., during surgery). Nevertheless, high quality standard surgical masks (type II/IIR according to European Norm EN 14683) appear to be as effective as FFP2 masks in preventing droplet-associated viral infections of HCWs as reported from influenza or SARS.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: 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: and 3) provides suggestion that the public should wear the mask during COVID-19 pandemic according to local context.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: The rationale for using vitamin D is based largely on immunomodulatory effects that could potentially protect against COVID-19 infection or decrease the severity of illness
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
Claim: A face mask covers your mouth and nose. It can block the release of virus-filled droplets into the air when you cough or sneeze. This helps slow the spread of COVID-19.
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 ideal face mask blocks large respiratory droplets from coughs or sneezes - the primary method by which people pass the coronavirus to others
Question: what are the best masks for preventing infection by Covid-19?
Evidence: the American College of Physicians (ACP) provides recommendations based on the best available evidence through 14 April 2020 on the effectiveness of N95 respirators, surgical masks, and cloth masks in reducing transmission of infection.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Vitamin D appears to play role in COVID-19 mortality rates
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: For someone who died of COVID-19, the death certificate might read COVID-19, as well as pneumonia and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) as causes of death, with diabetes and hypertension
Question: how do people die from the coronavirus?
Evidence: The cause of most deaths has been acute pneumonia.
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: Cannabis thus joins tobacco as a SARS2-CoV-2 risk factor.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: there is no evidence that companion animals, such as dogs and cats, can spread COVID-19 or that they might be a source of infection
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19?
Evidence: Cellular angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the receptor of SARS-CoV-2 which is identical or similar in different species of animals such as pigs, ferrets, cats, orangutans, monkeys, and humans. Moreover, a recent study predicted that dog might be secondary host during the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 from bat to human. Therefore, there is a possibility of spreading SARS-CoV-2 through domestic pets.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: There is Potential Role of Social Distancing in Mitigating Spread of Coronavirus Disease
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: Supports
Claim: Fever-reducing medicine such as ibuprofen could worsen COVID-19
Question: Can taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) worsen COVID-19?
Evidence: When compared to exclusive paracetamol users, no differences were observed in mortality rates or the need for respiratory support among patients using ibuprofen.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: The treatment appears to have provided vitamin C and vitamin D to patients as well
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: having obesity (a BMI of 30 or above) may triple the risk of hospitalization due to COVID-19 infection. It's linked to impaired immune function, decreased lung capacity
Question: Does having a weakened immune system increase your risk of illness from COVID-19?
Evidence: Studies demonstrate that COVID-19 is an immune condition which is marked by reduced lymphocytes and elevated selected proinflammatory cytokines. Similar immune expression has been demonstrated in pregnancy by several studies.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: The poor IFN responses in COVID-19 patients may be explained by the action of this viral product
Question: how do people die from the coronavirus?
Evidence: The cause of most deaths has been acute pneumonia.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Can you boost your immune system to fight COVID-19? We don't yet know how to fully prevent or manage the damage caused by COVID-19, the disease caused by a coronavirus that is new to us all.
Question: will SARS-CoV2 infected people develop immunity?
Evidence: The CD4 + memory exploiting could help immune system to recall immunity of already know antigens against coronaviruses, avoiding or limiting "lung crash" until virus specific immunity develops and making it faster and prolonged. Finally, this administration could be helpful not only in already infected patients, but also before infection. In fact, people could have an immune system more ready when the contact with the Covid-19 will occur.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: 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: 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: Neutral
Claim: But blocking the immune system's communications network as the coronavirus mounts an attack could have unintended consequences.
Question: will SARS-CoV2 infected people develop immunity?
Evidence: The number of these epitopes and the prevalence of the common coronaviruses suggest that a large part of the world population has some degree of specific immunity against SARS-CoV-2 already, even without having been infected by that virus.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: nicotine might even be able to protect people who come into contact with COVID-19 patients and are therefore at higher risk of infection.
Question: Can smoking help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: These findings indicate that these comorbidities are not only associated with severity of disease but also predispose for getting Covid-19.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Further studies are needed to understand if and how different animals could be affected by the virus and the role animals may play in the spread of COVID-19. 
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19 to people?
Evidence: 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: Supports
Claim: social distancing measures like cancelling public gatherings are key to fighting the spread of the 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. This provides both evidence and impetus for governments considering similar measures in response to COVID-19 and other pandemics.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Dietary supplements containing micronutrients and vitamins C and D are a safe, low-cost, and effective way of helping the immune system fight off COVID-19 other acute respiratory
Question: Can I take any vitamins or supplements to prevent COVID-19?
Evidence: Evidence evaluating these supplements in COVID-19 patients is lacking, and providers and patients should not rely on dietary supplements to prevent or treat COVID-19.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: A marijuana-smoking habit could also make a person's symptoms with coivd-19 more severe.
Question: Can smoking cannabis (weed) help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: An epidemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) began in December 2019 and triggered a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). We aimed to find risk factors for the progression of COVID-19 to help reducing the risk of critical illness and death for clinical help.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Science is hoping that Covid-19 will also trigger an immune response from another arm of the adaptive immune system -- T cells.
Question: Are you immune to COVID-19 after recovering from it?
Evidence: To date, understanding whether acquired immunity and presence of anti SARSCov2 antibodies protects against reinfection is one the most important focus of the scientific community
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: The coronavirus may thrive in an environment of elevated blood glucose. People with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes might be at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
Question: what kinds of complications related to COVID-19 are associated with diabetes
Evidence: the association between DM and COVID-19-induced severe complications is still unclear
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Can we transmit the virus to pets? No, we can't
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19?
Evidence: Although there is currently no evidence that animals play a substantial role in spreading COVID-19, CDC advises persons with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 to restrict contact with animals during their illness and to monitor any animals with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and separate them from other persons and animals at home (1).
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Studies show hydroxychloroquine have clinical benefits in treating COVID-19 
Question: what are the early symptoms of COVID-19?
Evidence: In our cohort, ODs were an early symptom of COVID-19
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Seriously sick coronavirus patients in New York state's largest hospital system are being given massive doses of vitamin C
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: Refutes
Claim: Recovery from Covid-19 can be a lengthy process, depending on how seriously people get the virus.
Question: Can people recover from COVID-19?
Evidence: In this situation, it is imperative to understand the possible outcome of COVID-19 recovered patients and determine if they have any other detrimental illnesses by longitudinal analysis to safeguard their life in future.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Putting sesame oil on my skin will protect me against the COVID-19 virus.
Question: Does garlic protect against covid-19
Evidence: In late December 2019 in Wuhan, China, several patients with viral pneumonia were identified as 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). So far, there are no specific treatments for patients with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), and the treatments available today are based on previous experience with similar viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and Influenza virus.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: 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, older than 65, and smoking were risk factors for disease progression in patients with COVID-19 (male: OR=1.76, 95% CI (1.41, 2.18), P < 0.00001;
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: The invisible light can kill viruses and pathogens like the one that causes COVID-19
Question: what hand sanitizers kill COVID-19?
Evidence: By extrapolating effectiveness of hand sanitizers on viruses of similar structure to SARS-CoV-2, this virus should be effectively inactivated with current hand hygiene products
Verdict: 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: This study 1) illustrates transmission routes of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2);
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: A headache isn't a common symptom of the covid-19
Question: Is a headache sign of the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: Cough, fever, headache and asthenia were the most prevalent symptoms.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Drinking strong alcohol kills the new coronavirus
Question: Can drinking alcohol help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Is drinking a healthy way of coping? No.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: SARS-CoV-2's rapid spread is likely due to the movements of people with no or very mild symptoms - namely, those who are unaware that they even have the virus. That is why social distancing is such an important containment measure, they explain.
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: taking certain supplements such as vitamin d and vitamin c help boost your immune system in the fight against COVID-19
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: A principal defence against uncontrolled inflammation, and against viral infection in general, is provided by T regulatory lymphocytes (Tregs). Treg levels have been reported to be low in many COVID-19 patients and can be increased by vitamin D supplementation. Low vitamin D levels have been associated with an increase in inflammatory cytokines and a significantly increased risk of pneumonia and viral upper respiratory tract infections. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increase in thrombotic episodes, which are frequently observed in COVID-19. Vitamin D deficiency has been found to occur more frequently in patients with obesity and diabetes. These conditions are reported to carry a higher mortality in COVID-19. If vitamin D does in fact reduce the severity of COVID-19 in regard to pneumonia/ARDS, inflammation, inflammatory cytokines and thrombosis, it is our opinion that supplements would offer a relatively easy option to decrease the impact of the pandemic.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Some people with certain medical conditions, such as kidney problems, cannot safely take vitamin D.
Question: Does Vitamin C impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: 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: Refutes
Claim: We therefore suggest that the majority of patients had died of COVID-19 with only contributory implications of preexisting health conditions to the mechanism of death.
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: 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: 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: Can hydroxychloroquine treat COVID-19? No
Question: does hydroxychloroquine treat COVID-19?
Evidence: HCQ should be prescribed as a part of treatment for critically ill COVID-19 patients, with possible outcome of saving lives.
Verdict: Refutes
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: Hence, dexamethasone may be useful for the short-term in severe, intubated, COVID-19 patients, but could be outright dangerous during recovery since the virus will not only persist, but the body will be prevented from generating protective antibodies.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: A small number of pets worldwide, including cats and dogs, have been reported to be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, mostly after close contact with people with COVID-19.
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19?
Evidence: Although there is currently no evidence that animals play a substantial role in spreading COVID-19, CDC advises persons with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 to restrict contact with animals during their illness and to monitor any animals with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and separate them from other persons and animals at home (1).
Verdict: Supports
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: patients treated with HCQ at the time of early hospital recovered faster than those who treated later or taken as second line choose for their obvious shorter hospitalization time.
Verdict: Refutes
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:  The COVID-19 population-level mortality rate (per 100,000 person-years) increased with age: from 0.1 deaths among 30-39 year olds to 9.5 deaths among 80 year olds.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Most people who get COVID-19 recover from it
Question: what are the early symptoms of COVID-19?
Evidence: In our cohort, ODs were an early symptom of COVID-19
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Can pets get the coronavirus disease? The short answer is YES
Question: Can pets get the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: Therefore, there is a possibility of spreading SARS-CoV-2 through domestic pets. There are now many reports of SARS-CoV-2 positive cases in dogs, cats, tigers, lion, and minks. Experimental data showed ferrets and cats are highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 as infected by virus inoculation and can transmit the virus directly or indirectly by droplets or airborne route.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: The N95 Respirator Mask Protect You Against 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: Feeling dizzy can be a symptom of COVID-19.
Question: what are the early symptoms of COVID-19?
Evidence: Acute abdomen as an early symptom of COVID-19.
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: More dangerously, 20.6% and 19.2% students believed antibiotics and smoking to be a protective measure against the infection respectively.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Marijuana sales have spiked during the coronavirus pandemic, but lung health experts warn smoking the substance could increase a person's risk of getting COVID-19. 
Question: Can smoking cannabis (weed) help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Male, older than 65, and smoking were risk factors for disease progression in patients with COVID-19 (male: OR=1.76, 95% CI (1.41, 2.18), P < 0.00001;
Verdict: Supports
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: Inefficient human-to-human transmission of zoonotic strains may initially limit the spread of transmission, but an infection may be contracted by touching contaminated surfaces.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: remdesivir was superior to placebo in shortening the time to recovery in adults who were hospitalized with Covid-19 and had evidence of lower respiratory tract infection. 
Question: is remdesivir an effective treatment for COVID-19?
Evidence: Currently, there is not any specific effective antiviral treatment for COVID-19.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Some cancer treatments such as chemotherapy can weaken your immune system (cause you to be immunocompromised) and may increase your risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
Question: how do people die from the coronavirus?
Evidence: these therapies may weaken the immune system and potentially place IBD patients at increased risk of infections and infectious complications including those from COVID-19.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Because people are advised to stay at home as much as possible, people sould take vitamin D supplements through summer and autumn during this pandemic to prevent 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: But at the start of the pandemic, there was concern that specific medications for high blood pressure could be linked with worse outcomes for COVID-19 patients
Question: are patients taking Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE) inhibitors at increased risk for COVID-19?
Evidence: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers are not associated with severe COVID-19 infection in a multi-site UK acute hospital trust
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: SARS-CoV-2 stands for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Question: Do COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 mean the same thing?
Evidence: The data shown here give hints on the origin of this virus and may inform efforts on transmissibility, host adaptation and other biological aspects of this virus.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection to prevent person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19
Question: Can face masks protect me from the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: 2) addresses controversies surrounding the mask from perspectives of attitude, effectiveness, and necessity of wearing the mask with evidence that the use of mask would effectively interrupt the transmission of infectious diseases in both hospital settings and community settings;
Verdict: Supports
Claim: risk factors, raised concerns that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) could increase both the susceptibility and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Question: are patients taking Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE) inhibitors at increased risk for COVID-19?
Evidence: Our results strongly support the recommendation that ACEI and ARB should be continued in the population and in COVID-19 positive patients, reinforcing the position of several scientific societies.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Where can I buy hand sanitizer and if I can't find it in the store, can I make my own? But if you can't find any at the store, all is not lost - you can make your own.
Question: Where can I buy hand sanitizer and if I can’t find it in the store, can I make my own?
Evidence: Particularly in situations like pandemic outbreak, it is crucial to interrupt the transmission chain of the virus by the practice of proper hand sanitization.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Anti-inflammatory drugs, which includes steroids such as prednisone and non-steroidal drugs like ibuprofen, work by decreasing inflammation
Question: Can taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) worsen COVID-19?
Evidence: However, available data from limited studies show administration of recombinant ACE2 improves lung damage caused by respiratory viruses, suggesting ibuprofen use may be beneficial in COVID-19 disease. 
Verdict: Supports
Claim: While no studies exist directly linking cannabis combustion (or cannabis consumption in general) to coronavirus symptoms, COVID-19 causes respiratory illness, an issue smoking only exacerbates.
Question: Can smoking cannabis (weed) help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Data indicate CVIR demonstrates significant trends across cannabis use intensity quintiles and with relaxed cannabis legislation. Recent cannabis use is independently predictive of CVIR in bivariate and multivariable adjusted models and intensity of use is interactively significant. Cannabis thus joins tobacco as a SARS2-CoV-2 risk factor.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Drink lots of water or hot tea to help keep your airways clear.
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: A rarely mentioned early symptom is gastrointestinal distress.
Question: Which are the first symptoms of the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: We present a case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with an initial medical presentation of keratoconjunctivitis, the first such reported case in North America. The patient's primary symptom was a red eye with watery discharge, though she did have mild respiratory symptoms, without fever.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Can wearing a face mask protect against the 2019 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: Neutral
Claim: If you test positive for COVID-19, the best thing you can do is stay home and rest until your doctor says you're infection-free.
Question: Does garlic protect against covid-19
Evidence: In conclusion, Allium sativum may be an acceptable preventive measure against COVID-19 infection to boost immune system cells and to repress the production and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines as well as an adipose tissue derived hormone leptin having the proinflammatory nature.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: There is Potential Role of Social Distancing in Mitigating Spread of Coronavirus Disease
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: Some cancer treatments such as chemotherapy can weaken your immune system (cause you to be immunocompromised) and may increase your risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
Question: how do people die from the coronavirus?
Evidence: Respiratory failure has been cited as the major cause of death
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: people suffering from symptoms of the illness avoid taking the common anti-inflammatory painkiller, which is known by brand names like Advil and Motrin.
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: hydroxychloroquine could prevent or treat COVID-19.
Question: does hydroxychloroquine treat COVID-19?
Evidence: mortality rate was increased when the treatment was conducted with hydroxychloroquine.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: There is a link between vitamin D status and COVID-19 risk
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 supplements can prevent coronavirus
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: there is not enough evidence on the association between vitamin D levels and COVID-19 severity and mortality. Therefore, randomized control trials and cohort studies are necessary to test this hypothesis.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: There is no evidence that ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can make COVID-19 cases more severe. 
Question: Can taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) worsen COVID-19?
Evidence: For NSAIDs, there is no clear scientific evidence linking ibuprofen and other NSAIDs to worsening of COVID-19; however, it seems prudent to continue them, if necessary to control pericarditis, and on the other hand, to prefer paracetamol for fever and systemic symptoms related to COVID-19.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Anything that covers my nose and mouth, regardless of how it's made, will keep me from spreading the virus to others.
Question: Can face masks protect me from the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: We find that the critical mask adherence is 5 per 100 when 80% wear face masks.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: While the combination has health benefits such as pain relief, inflammation management and sore throat management, it does not help prevent the onset of Covid-19.
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: Neutral
Claim: camostat mesylate inhibited infection of important target cells - human lung epithelial cells,
Question: are there any drugs that work for SARS-CoV or SARS-CoV-2 in animals?
Evidence: When used for prophylaxis or treatment neither the standard human malaria dose (6.5 mg/kg) nor a high dose (50 mg/kg) of HCQ had any beneficial effect on clinical disease or SARS-CoV-2 kinetics (replication/shedding) in the Syrian hamster disease model. Similarly, HCQ prophylaxis/treatment (6.5 mg/kg) did not significantly benefit clinical outcome nor reduce SARS-CoV-2 replication/shedding in the upper and lower respiratory tract in the rhesus macaque disease model. In conclusion, our preclinical animal studies do not support the use of HCQ in prophylaxis/treatment of COVID-19.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: And, most importantly, there's scant evidence to support taking supplements to prevent COVID-19
Question: Can I take any vitamins or supplements to prevent COVID-19?
Evidence: Dietary supplementation has not been linked to COVID-19 prevention.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: The WHO says there is no reason to believe cold weather can kill the new coronavirus, or other diseases, for that matter.
Question: how does the coronavirus respond to changes in the weather
Evidence: Correcting for that distributed delay and offering conservative estimates, we find a negative relationship between temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius and estimated reproduction number ([R]), with each degree Celsius associated with a 3.1% (95% CI, 1.5% to 4.8%) reduction in [R]. Higher levels of relative humidity strengthen the negative effect of temperature above 25 degrees.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: 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: 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: Coronaviruses are separate from influenza viruses.
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: Neutral
Claim: Proper Vitamin D Levels May Reduce Coronavirus Complications
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: 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: Since COVID-19 outbreak, various agents have been tested but no proven effective therapies have been identified.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: lopinavir (LPV), ritonavir, chloroquine, favipiravir, and remdesivir drugs can cure and treat covid-19
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: Masks are not an effective way of protection from the new coronavirus, only N95 are, and masks have disclaimers saying they cannot prevent someone from acquiring the new coronavirus.
Question: what are the best masks for preventing infection by Covid-19?
Evidence: Neither mask type completely prevents transmission, which may be due to inappropriate handling and alternative transmission pathways. Therefore, compliance with a bundle of infection control measures including thorough hand hygiene is key.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Most people recover from Covid-19.
Question: Can people recover from COVID-19?
Evidence: The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared this outbreak a global health emergency and as on April 24, 2020, it has spread to 213 countries, with 25,91,015 confirmed cases and 742,855 cases have been recovered from COVID-19.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: The virus that causes COVID-19 can remain stable on cardboard for up to 24 hours and 2-3 days on plastic and stainless steel.
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence: It was found that 83% and 77% of the bedside surfaces of MRSA-positive and MRSA-negative patients respectively were contaminated with staphylococci at 08:00 hours, and that the staphylococcal concentrations increased by 80% at 1200 h over a 4-hour period with routine ward and clinical activities.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: You Probably Can't Get COVID-19 Twice
Question: Do antibodies make you immune to COVID-19?
Evidence: Most patients with COVID-19 lack antibody to SARS-CoV-2 in the first 10 days of illness while the virus drives disease pathogenesis.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: smokers are at greater risk of complications from COVID-19 than non-smokers. 
Question: Can smoking help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Cannabis thus joins tobacco as a SARS2-CoV-2 risk factor.
Verdict: Supports