jpd459/healthver_resplit_larger huggingface dataset:
Claim: vitamin D may also reduce the risk of catching 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: COVID-19 symptoms can sometimes persist for months
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: Neutral
Claim: Social distancing is a voluntary practice to help stop the spread of 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: The most common symptoms are: Respiratory illness symptoms (sore throat, cough (usually dry), shortness of breath, chest pain)
Question: Which are the first symptoms of the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: The initial symptoms of most patients include fever, cough, and fatigue.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Can Pets Spread Coronavirus (COVID-19) to People? The answer is YES
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: Vitamin C has been postulated by this paper as one of the treatment measures that can reduce the infection rate and also contribute to the cure of COVID-19. 
Question: Can vitamin C treat COVID-19?
Evidence: So far, there is scarce evidence for the current treatment options available for COVID-19.
Verdict: Refutes
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: the use of hydroxychloroquine alone was associated with increased mortality in COVID-19 patients.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: masks can not slow the spread of coronavirus
Question: How much impact do masks have on preventing the spread of the COVID-19?
Evidence: COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV2 is a rapidly spreading global pandemic. Although precise transmission routes and dynamics are unknown, SARS-CoV2 is thought primarily to spread via contagious respiratory droplets.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Coronavirus is most likely to spread from person to person, when we come into close contact with one another.
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: Coronavirus origin traced to animal market in Wuhan
Question: what is the origin of COVID-19
Evidence: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) originated in the city of Wuhan, Hubei Province, Central China
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Smoking and coronavirus: Does smoking prevent coronavirus? The short answer is NO
Question: Can smoking help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Higher genetically proxied BMI and lifetime smoking score were associated with increased risk of sepsis in both UK Biobank (BMI: odds ratio 1.38 per standard deviation increase, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.27 to 1.51
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Vitamin D can help combat the coronavirus
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: Smoking leads to lung damage, heart disease and cancer all health issues that make COVID-19 cases more severe
Question: Can smoking help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Conclusions This representative population sample will, to our knowledge, present the first comprehensive examination of the association between smoking, nicotine use without smoking, respiratory disease, and severity of COVID-19.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Smoking has severe pathological consequences and remains a serious danger for health
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: many scientific documents on the health effects of 5G have verified that it causes flu-like symptoms. 
Question: Can 5G technology cause COVID-19?
Evidence: 5G communication technology has the characteristics of faster speed, shorter time delay and denser capacity. In COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control work, it can further improve the efficiency of doctors&apos; diagnosis, improve patients&apos; medical experience, realize the remote sharing of high-quality medical resources and real-time information exchange, effectively block the spread of epidemic, alleviate the shortage of medical resources and medical staff, and make the epidemic prevention and control more efficient.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Social distancing is key to stopping coronavirus
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: The decentralized strategy is insufficient when used alone, but offers the best results when combined with the centralized one. Indeed, the (C+D) is the most efficient isolation strategy at mitigating the network superspreaders and reducing the highest node degrees to less than 10% of their initial values.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Critically ill patients have robust immunity to new coronavirus
Question: will SARS-CoV2 infected people develop immunity?
Evidence: In this study, we collected blood from COVID-19 patients who have recently become virus-free and therefore were discharged, and analyzed their SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody and T cell responses. We observed SARS-CoV-2-specific humoral and cellular immunity in the patients. Both were detected in newly discharged patients, suggesting both participate in immune-mediated protection to viral infection.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: The patients who received vitamin C did significantly better than those who did not get Vitamin C.
Question: Does Vitamin C impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: CONCLUSION The use of IV vitamin C in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 disease may be feasible.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: The virus that causes COVID-19 can remain more stable plastic
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: 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: 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: Supports
Claim: Heart failure is the main cause of death from COVID-19
Question: how do people die from the coronavirus?
Evidence: The ongoing outbreak of COVID-19 has been expanding worldwide. As of 17 April 2020, the death toll stands at a sobering 147,027 and over two million cases, this has been straining the health care systems all over.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: cannabis could reduce chances of COVID-19 infection
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: 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: 5G communication technology has the characteristics of faster speed, shorter time delay and denser capacity. In COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control work, it can further improve the efficiency of doctors&apos; diagnosis, improve patients&apos; medical experience, realize the remote sharing of high-quality medical resources and real-time information exchange, effectively block the spread of epidemic, alleviate the shortage of medical resources and medical staff, and make the epidemic prevention and control more efficient.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: cannabis could reduce chances of COVID-19 infection
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: People can contract the novel coronavirus and be truly asymptomatic -- meaning the virus infects them and runs its course without ever producing symptoms.
Question: what is known about people that have COVID-19 without any symptoms?
Evidence: APs with COVID-19 still have certain period of viral shedding, which suggests the possibility of transmission during their asymptomatic period.
Verdict: Supports
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: obesity represents the strongest predictor for Covid-19 followed by diabetes and hypertension in both sexes
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: Our results indicate that surgical face masks could prevent transmission of human coronaviruses and influenza viruses from symptomatic individuals.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: As the world races for a COVID-19 vaccine, it has never been more important for clinical trials to reflect the population at large.
Question: are there any clinical trials available for the coronavirus
Evidence: Currently available published, peer-reviewed results mostly involve small sample sizes with study limitations restricting the interpretation of the findings.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: COVID symptoms include a high fever, a new cough, and loss of smell and taste
Question: what are the early symptoms of COVID-19?
Evidence: The various symptoms identified for COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, sore throat, dyspnea, fatigue, myalgia, and headache. Olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions are emerging as a new symptom more in the European patients.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Acute kidney injury is the main cause of death in covid-19 patients
Question: how do people die from the coronavirus?
Evidence: The cause of most deaths has been acute pneumonia.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: The COVID-19 shutdown is making weather prediction more difficult
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: Does nicotine protect against coronavirus? Not exactly.
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: Vitamins C, D can help prevent coronavirus
Question: Does Vitamin C impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: Although COVID-19 can be rapidly diagnosed, efficient clinical treatment of COVID-19 remains unavailable, resulting in high fatality.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: a cytokine storm is associated with COVID-19 severity and is also a crucial cause of death from COVID-19
Question: what is a cytokine storm and how is it related to COVID-19?
Evidence: The disease progresses rapidly, and the mortality is high. Certain evidence shows that, during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, the severe deterioration of some patients has been closely related to the cytokine storm in their bodies.
Verdict: Supports
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: However, masks alone may not greatly slow down the COVID-19 pandemic unless they are coupled with adequate social distancing, diligent hand hygiene, and other proven preventive measures.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: camostat mesylate was active against other coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV. 
Question: are there any drugs that work for SARS-CoV or SARS-CoV-2 in animals?
Evidence: Several efforts are currently made to find a treatment for COVID-19 patients. So far, several anti-viral and immunosuppressive or immunomodulating drugs have demonstrated some efficacy on COVID-19 both in vitro and in animal models as well as in cases series. 
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Using masks in public may help reduce the spread from people who don't have symptoms. Non-medical cloth masks are recommended for the public. Surgical masks and N-95 respirators are in short supply and should be reserved for health care providers.
Question: Can face masks protect me from the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: Wearing medical masks or N95 masks (namely N95 respirators) can slow the virus spread and reduce the infection risk.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: excessive alcohol consumption will not protect you against Covid-19. It won't kill the virus, either -- the opposite is true.
Question: Can drinking alcohol help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: While it remains much too early to determine precisely how alcohol use might affect risk for or progression of COVID19, any efforts to connect the dots from past alcohol research would suggest it wise for nondrinkers and lowrisk drinkers to maintain that status during this public health crisis.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Can hydroxychloroquine treat COVID-19? No
Question: does hydroxychloroquine treat COVID-19?
Evidence: the use of hydroxychloroquine alone was associated with increased mortality in COVID-19 patients.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: The best ways to protect yourself from COVID-19 are to wash your hands, keep your distance from other people, wear a mask when you are outside your home or can't keep your distance from others, clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, and avoid crowded indoor spaces.
Question: what hand sanitizers kill COVID-19?
Evidence: The index of India has remained very low (161) so far, mainly due to early implementation of social lockdown, social distancing, and sanitizing hands.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: public should wear face masks to combat COVID-19
Question: How much impact do masks have on preventing the spread of the COVID-19?
Evidence: We present two models for the COVID-19 pandemic predicting the impact of universal face mask wearing upon the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus--one employing a stochastic dynamic network based compartmental SEIR (susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered) approach, and the other employing individual ABM (agent-based modelling) Monte Carlo simulation--indicating (1) significant impact under (near) universal masking when at least 80% of a population is wearing masks, versus minimal impact when only 50% or less of the population is wearing masks, and (2) significant impact when universal masking is adopted early, by Day 50 of a regional outbreak, versus minimal impact when universal masking is adopted late. 
Verdict: Supports
Claim: A conspiracy theory linking 5G wireless networks to the Covid-19 pandemic is spreading. The theory is false.
Question: Can 5G technology cause COVID-19?
Evidence: a popular theory has linked 5G to the spread of COVID-19
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: cloth face masks are not effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19
Question: what are the best masks for preventing infection by Covid-19?
Evidence: We found no direct high quality evidence on whether N95 respirators are better than surgical masks for HCWs protection from SARS-CoV-2.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: 5G mobile networks do not cause or spread COVID-19.
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: Supports
Claim: It is possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object, including food or food packaging, that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes. However, this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.
Question: Does Vitamin C impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: CONCLUSION The use of IV vitamin C in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 disease may be feasible.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: drinking whisky can protect against COVID-19 infection.
Question: Can drinking alcohol help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: It's already known that disaster can result in increased alcohol consumption
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Coronavirus: No proof yet that pets can get COVID-19 from owners
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. There is currently no indication that feline- or canine-to-human transmission can occur, though there is rising evidence of the reverse.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: smokers are actually less likely to become seriously infected with covid-19
Question: Can smoking help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Active smoking was associated with decreased odds of Covid-19.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: a trial of the drug dexamethasone shows it may be the first treatment demonstrated to save the lives of Covid-19 patients.
Question: Is dexamethasone effective for treating COVID-19?
Evidence: dexamethasone is associated with increased risk of viral and respiratory infections, and causes lymphopenia, which is associated with worse outcomes during COVID-19 infections.
Verdict: Refutes
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: Mortality was significantly associated with older age, lower body mass index, chronic renal disease, higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score, lower PaO2/FIO2 ratio, higher D-dimer, higher C-reactive protein, and receipt of mechanical ventilation, vasopressors, renal replacement therapy, or vasodilator therapy.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: people with uncontrolled or untreated high blood pressure may be at risk of getting severely ill with COVID-19.
Question: what kinds of complications related to COVID-19 are associated with hypertension?
Evidence:  Hypertension has been proven to be more prevalent in patients with an adverse outcome (admission in intensive care unit, use of mechanical ventilation, or death).
Verdict: Supports
Claim: There is no evidence that dogs or cats can spread COVID-19 to humans, but there are a few precautions to take.
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19?
Evidence: 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: Drinking hot tea almost doubles risk of esophageal cancer risk
Question: Can drinking hot green tea help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: In conclusion, the plant-based foods play a vital role to enhance the immunity of people to control of COVID-19.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: People with diabetes are among the groups most at risk for more severe complications to the novel coronavirus and its disease, 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: 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: 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: if you smoke weed, you might be putting yourself at higher risk of suffering severe complications if you get infected with the novel coronavirus. 
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: vitamin D supplementation can reduce the risk, and potentially severity, of COVID-19.
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: In Middle East, the recovery rate (r= 0.267) and mortality rate (r= -0.217) showed a medium correlation.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Does heat prevent COVID-19? No, Absolutely not
Question: Does heat prevent COVID-19?
Evidence:  Virus test results revealed that 99.8% of the aerosolized SARS-CoV-2 was caught and killed by a single pass through a novel Ni-foam-based filter when heated up to 200 C. Additionally, the same filter was also used to catch and kill 99.9% of Bacillus anthracis, an airborne spore. This study paves the way for preventing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and other highly infectious airborne agents in closed environments.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Vitamin D reduces infection and impact of COVID-19
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: Coronavirus can not linger in the body after people recover.
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: Drinking alcohol can increase the risk of catching Covid-19 and make it worse if you do get it
Question: Can drinking alcohol help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: While it remains much too early to determine precisely how alcohol use might affect risk for or progression of COVID19, any efforts to connect the dots from past alcohol research would suggest it wise for nondrinkers and lowrisk drinkers to maintain that status during this public health crisis.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Low protein blood levels is the main cause of death from the new coronavirus.
Question: how do people die from the coronavirus?
Evidence: Respiratory failure has been cited as the major cause of death
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Face masks could help limit the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to researchers who studied the effect of surgical masks on the transmission of other corona and flu viruses.
Question: How much impact do masks have on preventing the spread of the COVID-19?
Evidence: COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV2 is a rapidly spreading global pandemic. Although precise transmission routes and dynamics are unknown, SARS-CoV2 is thought primarily to spread via contagious respiratory droplets.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: 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: The cardiovascular system is also affected, with complications including myocardial injury, myocarditis, acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, dysrhythmias, and venous thromboembolic events. Current therapies for COVID-19 may interact with cardiovascular medications.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: face masks can provide a temporary barrier against viruses
Question: Can face masks protect me from the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: In this study, we demonstrated, using avian coronavirus of infectious bronchitis virus to mimic SARSCoV2, that medical masks and N95 masks remained their blocking efficacy after being steamed on boiling water even for 2 hours.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: headache was the first symptom in COVID-19 patients.
Question: Is a headache sign of the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: since moderate conjunctival hyperemia can be the first sign of a severe respiratory distress.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: COVID-19 may hit older adults harder than kids and younger
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: Humans can not infect other animals with the Covid-19 virus.
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19?
Evidence: Experimental data showed ferrets and cats are highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 as infected by virus inoculation and can transmit the virus directly or indirectly by droplets or airborne route.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: smoking might make people less susceptible to COVID-19 infection.
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: Refutes
Claim: Studies show hydroxychloroquine have clinical benefits in treating COVID-19 
Question: what are the early symptoms of COVID-19?
Evidence: The various symptoms identified for COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, sore throat, dyspnea, fatigue, myalgia, and headache. Olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions are emerging as a new symptom more in the European patients.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Favipiravir may treat SARS-CoV-2
Question: Can favipiravir help treat COVID-19?
Evidence: In this open-label nonrandomized control study, FPV showed significantly better treatment effects on COVID-19 in terms of disease progression and viral clearance; if causal, these results should be important information for establishing standard treatment guidelines to combat the SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Symptoms of COVID-19 and the flu appear at different times and have some differences. With COVID-19, you may experience loss of taste or smell.
Question: How does the coronavirus differ from seasonal flu?
Evidence: There are significant differences in the clinical and laboratory courses between COVID-19 and influenza.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Immunity after recovery from COVID-19? Yes
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: Refutes
Claim: Domestic Cats Can Pass COVID-19 to One Another and Not Appear Sick
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19 to people?
Evidence: ferrets and cats are highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 as infected by virus inoculation and can transmit the virus directly or indirectly by droplets or airborne routes.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Common Steroid Could Be Cheap and Effective Treatment for Severe COVID-19.
Question: Is dexamethasone effective for treating COVID-19?
Evidence: Recent announcements indicated, without sharing any distinct published set of results, that the corticosteroid dexamethasone may reduce mortality of severe COVID-19 patients only.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Once a person has contracted coronavirus, it can take 2-14 days for symptoms to appear. The average incubation period appears to be roughly 5-6 days.
Question: what are the early symptoms of COVID-19?
Evidence: Gustatory Dysfunction as an Early Symptom in COVID-19 Screening
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: 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: The results demonstrated cats can be infected with the coronavirus.
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19?
Evidence: Likewise, the S protein nucleotide sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus isolated in domestic animals and humans is identical, and the replication of the SARS-CoV-2 in cats is efficient.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: People who have recovered from COVID-19 can safely interact with others for three months
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: 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: the efficacy of alcohol-based hand sanitizer against the coronavirus.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: COVID-19 disease, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is known to have three phases of the disease, that of early infection, the lung phase, and the severe hyperinflammatory phase. However, SARS-CoV-2 is not only a lung-tropic virus but also infects the gut cells and vascular endothelium. 
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: Vitamin D's effect on Covid-19 maybe be exaggerated
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: The severity of coronavirus 2019 infection (COVID-19) is determined by the presence of pneumonia, severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (SARS-CoV-2), myocarditis, microvascular thrombosis and/or cytokine storms, all of which involve underlying inflammation.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Can Nicotine Treat COVID-19? Researchers Think So
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: 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: Although animal-to-animal transmission has been shown to be possible, there is no evidence of animal-to-human transmission.
Verdict: Supports
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: This provides evidences strongly supporting scientific hypotheses that bats and pangolins are probable hosts for the COVID-19 virus. At the whole genome analysis level, our findings also indicate that bats are more likely the hosts for the COVID-19 virus than pangolins.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: favipiravir may help remove the airway of the coronavirus (source)
Question: Can favipiravir help treat COVID-19?
Evidence: No specific treatment has been reported.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: There is no scientific research supporting the claim that taking high doses of vitamin C could help prevent or cure COVID-19.
Question: Does Vitamin C impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: Following a balanced diet and supplementation with proper nutrients may play a vital role in prevention, treatment, and management of COVID-19.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have now withdrawn the emergency use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 treatment.
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: reinfection can occur a few months after recovering from an initial bout of COVID-19. However, it appears his immune system protected the man from serious symptoms.
Question: Are you immune to COVID-19 after recovering from it?
Evidence: we serially analysed immune responses in 113 COVID-19 patients with moderate (non-ICU) and severe (ICU) disease.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Inhaling, smoking, or vaping cannabis products in the face of COVID-19 is not recommended
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: Supports
Claim: vitamin D deficiency is associated with numerous chronic diseases, which we know also affect COVID-19 severity
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: In Europe, there were no correlations for both recovery (r= 0.040) and mortality rate (r= -0.035).
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: There is only one existing treatment for the new coronavirus: vitamin C
Question: Does Vitamin C impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: Following a balanced diet and supplementation with proper nutrients may play a vital role in prevention, treatment, and management of COVID-19.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: BCG have reduced the severity of COVID-19
Question: can bcg vaccine cure covid-19
Evidence: The countries without universal vaccination policies (i.e.: Italy, Netherlands, United States) would seemto be hit more severely against COVID-19, than in countries with universal vaccination policies and for a long time with BCG.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Your risk of coronavirus with diabetes In general people with diabetes face greater risks of complications when dealing with viral infections like flu, and that is likely to be true with COVID-19
Question: what kinds of complications related to COVID-19 are associated with diabetes
Evidence: diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol levels possess an apparent relation to COVID-19 severity.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Coronaviruses, like the one that causes COVID-19, are thought to spread mostly person-to-person through respiratory droplets when someone coughs, sneezes, or talks
Question: Does Vitamin C impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: We identified a total of 17 patients who received IV vitamin C for COVID-19. The inpatient mortality rate in this series was 12% with 17.6% rates of intubation and mechanical ventilation. We noted a significant decrease in inflammatory markers, including ferritin and D-dimer, and a trend to decreasing FiO2 requirements, after vitamin C administration. 
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: No, a CDC-WHO study does not prove that masks do not prevent spread of COVID-19
Question: How much impact do masks have on preventing the spread of the COVID-19?
Evidence: We make 3 key observations: 1. Masks, even with suboptimal efficacy in both prevention of acquisition and transmission of infection, could substantially decrease the reproduction number for COVID-19 if widely used. 2. Widespread masking may be sufficient to suppress epidemics where R has been brought close to 1 via other measures (e.g., distancing). 3. Assortment within populations (the tendency for interactions between masked individuals to be more likely than interactions between masked and unmasked individuals) would rapidly erode the impact of masks.
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: Compared to the recovered group, more patients in the death group exhibited characteristics of advanced age, pre-existing comorbidities, dyspnea, oxygen saturation decrease, increased WBC count, decreased lymphocytes, and elevated CRP levels.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of ascorbic acid (vitamin c) and zinc gluconate in reducing duration of symptoms in patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Question: Does Vitamin C impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: We identified a total of 17 patients who received IV vitamin C for COVID-19. The inpatient mortality rate in this series was 12% with 17.6% rates of intubation and mechanical ventilation. We noted a significant decrease in inflammatory markers, including ferritin and D-dimer, and a trend to decreasing FiO2 requirements, after vitamin C administration. 
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: In fact, there is no scientific evidence that any supplement-vitamin C, vitamin D, prebiotics, or probiotics-can help prevent or speed recovery from 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: Multiple sclerosis drug dimethyl fumarate may suppress viral multiplication and reduce inflammation in COVID-19 patients A number of drugs like remdesivir specifically target the RNA polymerase of SARS-CoV-2, causing it to stop multiplying while other drugs like hydroxychloroquine focus on reducing inflammation, a possible cause of death in coronavirus patients.
Question: how do people die from the coronavirus?
Evidence: The cause of most deaths has been acute pneumonia.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Vitamin D reduces infection and impact of COVID-19
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: testing positive for COVID-19 was associated with increasing age(RR(age<50)=1.05,p<0.021;RR(age[]50)=1.02,p<0.064)), non-white race(RR=2.54,p<0.01) and being likely vitamin D deficient (deficient/treatment-not-increased:RR=1.77,p<0.02) as compared to likely vitamin D sufficient(not-deficient/treatment-not-decreased), with predicted COVID-19 rates in the vitamin D deficient group of 21.6%(95%CI[14.0%-29.2%] ) versus 12.2%(95%CI[8.9%-15.4%]) in the vitamin D sufficient group.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: No drug is approved for covid-19
Question: Are there any antiviral drugs to treat the coronavirus disease? 
Evidence: In particular, several cases of recovered patients have been reported after being treated with lopinavir/ritonavir (which is widely used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection) in combination with the anti-flu drug oseltamivir.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: 5G uses higher frequencies than 4G, which are dangerous and caused covid-19
Question: Can 5G technology cause COVID-19?
Evidence: 5G communication technology has the characteristics of faster speed, shorter time delay and denser capacity. In COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control work, it can further improve the efficiency of doctors&apos; diagnosis, improve patients&apos; medical experience, realize the remote sharing of high-quality medical resources and real-time information exchange, effectively block the spread of epidemic, alleviate the shortage of medical resources and medical staff, and make the epidemic prevention and control more efficient.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Taking vitamin D supplement can reduce the risk of becoming infected with COVID-19.
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: In Europe, there were no correlations for both recovery (r= 0.040) and mortality rate (r= -0.035).
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: "Isopropyl alcohol 70 percent, or isopropyl alcohol 99 percent diluted to 70 percent with purified water, kills organisms by denaturing their proteins.
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: Social Distancing Is Important to Combat COVID-19
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: No, COVID-19 has nothing to do with 5G
Question: Can 5G technology cause COVID-19?
Evidence: The aim of this study is to develop an understanding of the drivers of the 5G COVID-19 conspiracy theory and strategies to deal with such misinformation. 
Verdict: Supports
Claim: COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact (within about 6 feet) for a prolonged period.
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: social distancing is associated with a statistically-significant reduction in the doubling rate for all but three states.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: COVID-19 Cases Drop in Warm Weather, But Not Much
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: The cytokine storm in COVID-19 may have some differences from the cytokine storms in other clinical settings.
Question: what is a cytokine storm and how is it related to COVID-19?
Evidence: Cytokine storm is an excessive immune response to external stimuli.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are generally safe for reducing fever in young children.
Question: Can taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) worsen COVID-19?
Evidence: the safety of ibuprofen in COVID-19 patients has been questioned due to anecdotal reports of worsening symptoms in previously healthy young adults.
Verdict: Refutes
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: Since COVID-19 outbreak, various agents have been tested but no proven effective therapies have been identified.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: If you decide to engage in public activities, continue to protect yourself by practicing everyday preventive actions.; Keep these items on hand when venturing out: a mask, tissues, and a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, if possible.
Question: How much impact do masks have on preventing the spread of the COVID-19?
Evidence: Our results suggest use of face masks by the general public is potentially of high value in curtailing community transmission and the burden of the pandemic. The community-wide benefits are likely to be greatest when face masks are used in conjunction with other non-pharmaceutical practices (such as social-distancing), and when adoption is nearly universal (nation-wide) and compliance is high.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Nicotine could contribute to preventing people from contracting COVID-19.
Question: Can smoking help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Smoking has complicated effects on the immune system involving both up and down regulation, any of which might alone or in concert antagonize progression of COVID-19.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: no evidence COVID-19 impact on mental health
Question: How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted mental health?
Evidence: The socio-health emergency caused by COVID-19 may have a significant psychological impact on the population.
Verdict: Refutes