jpd459/healthver_resplit_larger huggingface dataset:
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: Preliminary observations from our team and others suggest that temperature and climatological factors could influence the spread of this novel coronavirus
Verdict: Supports
Claim: COVID-19 originated in China
Question: what is the origin of COVID-19
Evidence: However, the source(s) and transmission routine(s) of SARSCoV2 remain elusive' (1).
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Among patients who die before reaching the hospital, some will present too late in the course of the disease to be saved, whereas end-of-life care will be viewed as preferable for others because little chance of survival with a meaningful quality of life exists. 
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: Neutral
Claim: Vitamin D appears to play role in COVID-19 mortality rates
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: 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: 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: 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: early empiric short-term administration of HCQ in symptomatic individuals, may be a promising, safe and low-cost strategy.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: A day-by-day breakdown of coronavirus symptoms shows how COVID-19 goes from bad to worse.
Question: what are the early symptoms of COVID-19?
Evidence: Acute abdomen as an early symptom of COVID-19.
Verdict: Neutral
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: counties where the policies have been imposed have effectively increased social distancing and have seen slowing the spread of COVID-19.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: young people of color, much like their older counterparts, have been disproportionately hospitalized from covid-19, compared with their White peers.
Question: what are the mortality rates overall and in specific populations
Evidence:  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: Neutral
Claim: acetaminophen can stop the new coronavirus
Question: Can acetaminophen (Tylenol) treat the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: Development of a vaccine may be the only effective long-term protection against this disease.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: there is no scientifc evidence that ibuprofen and other drugs like it, can make you sicker if you have covid-19
Question: Can taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) worsen COVID-19?
Evidence: It was recently suggested that Ibuprofen might increase the risk for severe and fatal COVID-19 disease and should therefore be avoided in this patient population.
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: Efficient SARS-CoV-2 inactivation was demonstrated for all tested alcohol-based disinfectants. These findings show the successful inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 for the first time and provide confidence in its use for the control of COVID-19.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: quercetin and vitamin C is a potential COVID-19 therapy
Question: Does Vitamin C impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: CONCLUSION The use of IV vitamin C in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 disease may be feasible.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: researchers studying the spread of the virus pinpoints COVID-19's likely origin to a wet market, or live animal
Question: what is the origin of COVID-19
Evidence: However, the source(s) and transmission routine(s) of SARSCoV2 remain elusive' (1).
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: drinking tea may help prevent novel coronavirus infections has raised questions among the public and academics.
Question: Can drinking hot green tea help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: 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: Refutes
Claim: There is no rigorous scientific evidence to suggest hydroxychloroquine prevents, treats or cures COVID-19.
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: Surgical face masks help prevent the spread of infections through droplets among healthcare workers.
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: I've heard hot drinks can kill the virus.
Question: Can drinking hot green tea help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: The present study corroborates that compound "I" (EGCG) mostly present in the integrants of green tea, shows the highest potentiality for acting as an inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: social distancing involves staying away from other people in order to avoid catching or spreading a virus
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: social distancing is associated with a statistically-significant reduction in the doubling rate for all but three states.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Social distancing is important for all of us, but those of us who are at higher risk of serious complications caused by COVID-19 should be especially cautious about social distancing. People who are at high risk of complications include: Older adults. People who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease.
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: Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.
Question: what is the origin of COVID-19
Evidence: However, the source(s) and transmission routine(s) of SARSCoV2 remain elusive' (1).
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Garlic and bleach won't cure coronavirus.
Question: Does garlic protect against covid-19
Evidence: In late December 2019 in Wuhan, China, several patients with viral pneumonia were identified as 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). So far, there are no specific treatments for patients with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), and the treatments available today are based on previous experience with similar viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and Influenza virus.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Social distancing, also called physical distancing, means keeping a safe space between yourself and other people who are not from your household.
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: We use a simple log-linear model with intercept and trend break to evaluate whether the measures are effective preventing/slowing down the spread of the disease in Turkey.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: hydroxychloroquine (brand name: Plaquenil) does not provide a medical benefit for hospitalized patients with COVID-19.
Question: does hydroxychloroquine treat COVID-19?
Evidence: The odds of mortality were significantly higher in patients treated with Hydroxychloroquine + Azithromycin than supportive care alone [2.34 (95% CI: 1.63, 3.34); I2 = 0%]. A pooled analysis of recently published studies suggests no additional benefit for reducing mortality in COVID-19 patients when Hydroxychloroquine is given as add-on to the standard care.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: UV Light Work To Prevent The Spread Of COVID-19
Question: Does UV light help in preventing covid-19?
Evidence: Using published data from various sources it is shown that the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, is highly likely to be susceptible to UV damage while suspended in air irradiated by UV-C at levels that are acceptable and safe for upper-room applications.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: People who are physically near (within 6 feet) a person with COVID-19 or have direct contact with that person are at greatest risk of infection.
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: social distancing and have seen slowing the spread of COVID-19.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: transmission from surfaces is much lower risk than person to person.  
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence: The most common coronaviruses may well survive or persist on surfaces for up to one month.
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: It was recently suggested that ibuprofen might increase the risk for severe and fatal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and should therefore be avoided in this patient population.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: While remdesivir is an antiviral agent that is being explored as a treatment for COVID-19 and is available under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), there are currently no drugs or other therapeutics approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent or treat COVID-19. Studies are in progress to learn more.
Question: are there any clinical trials available for the coronavirus
Evidence: With more and more patients diagnosed, China has carried out more than 100 clinical studies of new coronavirus infection, including antiviral drugs, antimalarial drugs, glucocorticoids, plasma therapy, virus vaccine, and other Western drugs, while Chinese medicine research accounted for half of the studies.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Marijuana and COVID-19: What a Doctor Wants You to Know
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: Neutral
Claim: Malaria drugs tied to risk of death, heart problems in covid-19 patients
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: Neutral
Claim: zinc is very important. Zinc is very important for immune function
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: In Middle East, the recovery rate (r= 0.267) and mortality rate (r= -0.217) showed a medium correlation.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: The coronavirus pandemic can be dramatically slowed, or stopped completely, with the immediate widespread use of favipiravir
Question: Can favipiravir help treat COVID-19?
Evidence: Favipiravir is an antiviral previously indicated for influenza and Ebola, which has shown some promise in early trials for treatment of COVID-19. 
Verdict: Supports
Claim: We know you have had questions about taking ibuprofen to treat COVID-19 symptoms and may have wondered if ibuprofen can make COVID-19 or other respiratory illnesses worse
Question: Can taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) worsen COVID-19?
Evidence: CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of COVID-19 patients, ibuprofen use was not associated with worse clinical outcomes, compared with paracetamol or no antipyretic.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: healthy blood levels of vitamin D may give patients with COVID-19 a survival advantage by helping them avoid cytokine storm, when the immune system overreacts and attacks your body's own cells and tissues.
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: there is no risk of being infected by groceries and packages that we have delivered
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence:  Susceptible persons who contacted these contaminated surfaces may transfer the pathogens to their mucous membranes via hands, leading to a risk of respiratory infection.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Cold weather and snow CANNOT kill the new coronavirus.
Question: how does the coronavirus respond to changes in the weather
Evidence: Being a novel pandemic coronavirus version, it might be ongoing during summer conditions associated with higher air temperatures, low relative humidity and precipitation levels.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is the pathogen that causes COVID-19.
Question: Do COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 mean the same thing?
Evidence: The recent global outbreak of viral pneumonia designated as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) by coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has threatened global public health and urged to investigate its source. 
Verdict: Supports
Claim: If you are immunocompromised, the best way to prevent COVID-19 is to avoid being exposed to this virus.
Question: will SARS-CoV2 infected people develop immunity?
Evidence: Thus both qualitative and quantitative features of B and T cell immunity to spike constitute informative biomarkers of the protective potential of novel SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.
Verdict: Neutral
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: Findings revealed that belief in 5G COVID-19 conspiracy theories was positively correlated with state anger, which in turn, was associated with a greater justification of real-life and hypothetical violence in response to an alleged link between 5G mobile technology and COVID-19, alongside a greater intent to engage in similar behaviours in the future.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: immune system response varies between patients
Question: will SARS-CoV2 infected people develop immunity?
Evidence: Based on animal experiments, already acquired data on other coronavirus types and plausibility assumptions, it can be assumed that seroconverted patients have an immunity of limited duration and only a very low risk of reinfection.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: facing the reality that there's no vaccine available yet to prevent the continuous spread of the novel coronavirus, coupled with the still increasing number of positive cases, and not knowing when exactly the virus will be defeated is a daunting prospect for many.
Question: How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted mental health?
Evidence: The COVID-19 pandemic and associated physical isolation practices are likely to result in a range of mental health and psychosocial challenges.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: hand sanitizer may help rid your hands of unwanted germs.
Question: what hand sanitizers kill COVID-19?
Evidence: When hand washing with soap and water is unavailable, a sufficient volume of sanitizer is necessary to ensure complete hand coverage, and compliance is critical for appropriate hand hygiene.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: smokers are at greater risk of complications from COVID-19 than non-smokers. 
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: COVID-19 is a new disease, and we are still learning about it.
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: 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: The results obtained from various AI-enabled experiments using clustering algorithms demonstrate that all examined COVID-19 virus genomes belong to a cluster that also contains bat and pangolin coronavirus genomes.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: smoking the substance could increase a person's risk of getting COVID-19
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: It's very important to do what you can to reduce the risk of you and other people getting ill with coronavirus.
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: The government of different countries has adopted various policies to contain this epidemic and the most common were social distancing and lockdown. Our analysis revealed that the measures can slow down the outbreak. We can reduce the epidemic size and prolong the time to arrive at the epidemic peak by seriously following the measures suggested by the authorities.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Because the virus can be spread easily, many have resorted wearing face masks to protect themselves, as the virus is transmissible through human contact and exposure to respiratory droplets from an infected person.
Question: Can face masks protect me from the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: Surgical face masks significantly reduced detection of influenza virus RNA in respiratory droplets and coronavirus RNA in aerosols, with a trend toward reduced detection of coronavirus RNA in respiratory droplets.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Coronavirus origin traced to animal market in Wuhan
Question: what is the origin of COVID-19
Evidence: Zhou et al (1) mentioned that 'Direct contact with intermediate host animals or consumption of wild animals was suspected to be the main route of SARSCoV2 transmission.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: COVID-19 patients who took hydroxychloroquine were less likely to die
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: Supports
Claim: Similarly, not all critically ill patients in hospital will be admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), because the chances of meaningful survival for some will be viewed as too low
Question: how do people die from the coronavirus?
Evidence: Respiratory failure has been cited as the major cause of death
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: the vitamin D deficiency that is not sufficiently treated is associated with 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: Both SARS and MERS are examples of viruses that came from mother nature
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: Depending on the material, the coronavirus can last on surfaces like countertops and doorknobs anywhere from several hours to days.
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence: Most viruses from the respiratory tract, such as coronaviruses, influenza, SARS-CoV, or rhinovirus, can persist on surfaces for a few days.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: COVID-19 patients who took hydroxychloroquine were less likely to die
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: Supports
Claim: Masks include the ones that are made at home (typically cloth masks, made out of T-shirts and the like) as well as other non-medical and non-N95 masks are effective in limiting the spread of covid-19
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: Coronaviruses are separate from influenza viruses.
Question: how does the coronavirus respond to changes in the weather
Evidence: Being a novel pandemic coronavirus version, it might be ongoing during summer conditions associated with higher air temperatures, low relative humidity and precipitation levels.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: 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: While this novel coronavirus disease (covid-19) frequently induces mild diseases, it has also generated severe diseases among certain populations, including older-aged individuals with underlying diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: COVID-19 pandemic may cause long-term mental health issues
Question: What psychological effects could the COVID-19 pandemic cause?
Evidence: By an increase in the prevalence rate of COVID-19 and its resulted restrictions, the level of anxiety increases, as well; therefore, raising public awareness of the disease and providing positive psychological programs in the media aimed at controlling stress can reduce anxiety in society.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: At the moment, [social distancing is] the only tool available to fight the spread of the coronavirus
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: social distancing is associated with a statistically-significant reduction in the doubling rate for all but three states.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is essential, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing one's nose. If soap and water are not available, CDC recommends consumers use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Question: what hand sanitizers kill COVID-19?
Evidence: When hand washing with soap and water is unavailable, a sufficient volume of sanitizer is necessary to ensure complete hand coverage, and compliance is critical for appropriate hand hygiene.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: the majority of COVID-19 deaths had contributing conditions
Question: how do people die from the coronavirus?
Evidence: The cause of most deaths has been acute pneumonia.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Cytokine storm is now seen as a likely major cause of mortality in 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: Both SARS and MERS are examples of viruses that came from mother nature
Question: what is the origin of COVID-19
Evidence: Covid19 infection began in Wuhan (Hubei, China) in December, 2019.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Influenza and the common cold are diseases spread person to person in much the same way as SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. So, efforts to reduce COVID-19 have the dual benefit of reducing colds and flu.
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: stronger social distancing, e.g., cutting 75% of social ties, can reduce the outbreak by 75% for the C isolation, by 33% for the D isolation, and by 87% for the (C+D) isolation strategy.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Does nicotine protect against coronavirus? Not exactly.
Question: Can smoking help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Epidemiological and laboratory research seems to suggest that smoking and perhaps nicotine alone could reduce the severity of COVID-19.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: coronavirus started at some point before December 2019 in Wuhan, but COVID-19 doesn't come the Wuhan wet market that was initially blamed for the outbreak.
Question: what is the origin of COVID-19
Evidence: Zhou et al (1) mentioned that 'Direct contact with intermediate host animals or consumption of wild animals was suspected to be the main route of SARSCoV2 transmission.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Vitamin D : for prevention of 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: In the face of a traumatic event like the Covid-19 pandemic, it's common to feel intense flashbacks, nightmares, irritability, anger and fear.
Question: What psychological effects could the COVID-19 pandemic cause?
Evidence: The socio-health emergency caused by COVID-19 may have a significant psychological impact on the population.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Coronavirus: No proof yet that pets can get COVID-19 from owners, but human to animal spread has happened before.
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: Both acetaminophen and ibuprofen can be used to treat fever and pain associated with COVID-19, according to the European Medicines Agency
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: no studies have investigated the effect of vitamin D supplements or vitamin D deficiency on the risk of contracting the new coronavirus
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: Vitamin D deficiency that is not sufficiently treated is associated with COVID-19 risk.
Verdict: Refutes
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: This study 1) illustrates transmission routes of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2);
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Masks can become contaminated very quickly, and every time the wearer breathes in, they inhale contaminants
Question: what are the best masks for preventing infection by Covid-19?
Evidence: However, low quality evidence suggests that N95 respirators protect HCWs from clinical respiratory infections.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Vitamin D appears to play role in COVID-19 mortality rates
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: The N95 Respirator Mask Protect You Against coronavirus
Question: Can face masks protect me from the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: Surgical face masks significantly reduced detection of influenza virus RNA in respiratory droplets and coronavirus RNA in aerosols, with a trend toward reduced detection of coronavirus RNA in respiratory droplets.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: We found evidence of ongoing inflammation within the heart muscle, as well as of the heart's lining in a considerable majority of patients
Question: are heart complications likely in patients with COVID-19?
Evidence:  consistent reports of cardiac injury and de novo cardiac complications, including possible myocarditis, arrhythmia, and heart failure in patients without prior cardiovascular disease or significant risk factors, are emerging
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Homemade hand sanitizers are just as effective as what you buy as long as you use the right percentage of alcohol,
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: Masks may increase risk of infection
Question: what are the best masks for preventing infection by Covid-19?
Evidence: However, low quality evidence suggests that N95 respirators protect HCWs from clinical respiratory infections.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: healthy blood levels of vitamin D may give patients with COVID-19 a survival advantage by helping them avoid cytokine storm, when the immune system overreacts and attacks your body's own cells and tissues.
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: A significant negative correlation (p=0.033) has been observed between mean vitamin D levels and COVID-19 cases per one million population in European countries.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Hospitalization rates and deaths among Black Americans for COVID-19 are significantly higher than for their white peers
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: Neutral
Claim: Little is known about the kinetics, tissue distribution, cross-reactivity and neutralization antibody response in COVID-19 patients.
Question: are there any drugs that work for SARS-CoV or SARS-CoV-2 in animals?
Evidence: We show that a high (5106 pfu) and medium (5104 pfu) dose of SARS-CoV-2 induces consistent upper respiratory tract (URT) viral RNA shedding in both groups of six challenged animals, whilst a low dose (5102 pfu) resulted in only one of six displaying signs of URT viral RNA replication.  
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Coronavirus damages not only the lungs, but the kidneys, liver, heart, brain and nervous system, skin and gastrointestinal tract
Question: are heart complications likely in patients with COVID-19?
Evidence: The clinical evidence in our study suggested that myocardial injury is more likely related to systemic consequences rather than direct damage by the 2019 novel coronavirus. The elevation in cardiac markers was probably due to secondary and systemic consequences and can be considered as the warning sign for recent adverse clinical outcomes of the patients
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Do COVID-19 Face Masks Work If Kids Can't Stop Touching them? Yes, masks are still effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19, even if children keep touching them. 
Question: How much impact do masks have on preventing the spread of the COVID-19?
Evidence: 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: People with chronic conditions like diabetes and lung and heart disease are at greater risk of being hospitalized due to the coronavirus - but more than one in five patients who end up in intensive care had no such health problems.
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: The use of ARBs was not associated with a lower risk for COVID-19 hospitalization for either group.
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: People who are physically near (within 6 feet) a person with COVID-19 or have direct contact with that person are at greatest risk of infection.
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: 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: Your risk of catching the virus isn't higher than anyone else's.
Question: what kinds of complications related to COVID-19 are associated with diabetes
Evidence: COVID-19 patients with diabetes were more likely to develop severe or critical disease conditions with more complications, and had higher incidence rates of antibiotic therapy, non-invasive and invasive mechanical ventilation, and death
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Does COVID-19 spread through food? Yes, it is possible
Question: Can COVID-19 spread through food?
Evidence: Also, SARS-COV-2 transmission through food, food packages, and food handlers has not been identified as a risk factor for the disease.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Dexamethasone is touted to help COVID-19 survival rates.
Question: what evidence is there for dexamethasone as a treatment for COVID-19?
Evidence: To date, there has been no definite therapy for COVID-19.
Verdict: 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 potential risk of cytokine storm in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has been described
Verdict: Supports
Claim: favipiravir may help remove the airway of the coronavirus (source)
Question: Can favipiravir help treat COVID-19?
Evidence: In this article, we have tried to reach a therapeutic window of drugs available to patients with COVID19.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: an N95 mask is designed to block 95% of very small particles. Although cloth masks and N95 masks have different purposes, both are intended to slow the spread of COVID-19. 
Question: Can face masks protect me from the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: We identified seasonal human coronaviruses, influenza viruses and rhinoviruses in exhaled breath and coughs of children and adults with acute respiratory illness.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Ibuprofen is sold under many brand names, including Advil and Motrin. While it can treat headaches and fever like acetaminophen, it is also beneficial for muscle pulls because it reduces inflammation.
Question: Can taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) worsen COVID-19?
Evidence: The Expert Working Group on the Commission of Human Medicines in the UK and other organizations have stated that there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between ibuprofen and susceptibility to or exacerbation of COVID-19.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: T cells may help COVID-19 patients - and people never exposed to the virus
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: Severe heart damage has occurred in young, healthy people, but is rare. There may be more cases of mild effects of COVID-19 on the heart that can be diagnosed with special imaging tests, including in younger people with mild or minimal symptoms; however, the long-term significance of these mild effects on the heart are unknown.
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: 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: A confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection substantially increased the probability of death across all patient groups, ranging from nine (6 to 15) times the population mortality in 35-year old infected females to a 53-fold increase (46 to 59) for 95 year old infected males. The highest relative risks were observed among males and older patients.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Consuming alcohol can destroy the new coronavirus
Question: Can drinking alcohol help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Furthermore, students with greater perceived social support reported less alcohol consumption. 
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: patients with sufficient vitamin D levels had lower risk of death or severe COVID-19 complications.
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: In Europe, there were no correlations for both recovery (r= 0.040) and mortality rate (r= -0.035).
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: There's a seasonality to many viruses. Flu and cold viruses tend to peak in winter months, then die down with warmer weather.
Question: how does the coronavirus respond to changes in the weather
Evidence: Each 1 C rise of temperature was associated with a 4.8951% (t = 2.29, p = 0.0226) decrease in the number of daily cumulative confirmed cases of COVID-19
Verdict: Supports
Claim: A COVID-19 vaccine is a biotechnology product intended to provide acquired immunity against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Question: What vaccine candidates are being tested for Covid-19?
Evidence: Under this emergency situation that the world facing against COVID-19, there are about 15 potential vaccine candidates tested globally based on messenger RNA, DNA-based, nanoparticle, synthetic, and modified virus-like particle. 
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: a vaccine exists for the novel covid-19
Question: what hand sanitizers kill COVID-19?
Evidence: Most alcohol based hand sanitizers are effective at inactivating enveloped viruses, including coronaviruses.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Is it true that using ibuprofen has been shown to worsen symptoms of Coronavirus? the short answer is NO
Question: Can taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) worsen COVID-19?
Evidence: there is no supporting evidence to discourage the use of ibuprofen.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: While coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mostly spreads from person to person, it can also spread from people to animals.
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19?
Evidence: There is currently no indication that feline- or canine-to-human transmission can occur, though there is rising evidence of the reverse.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: covid-19 Patients are unlikely to be reinfected shortly after they recover
Question: Are you immune to COVID-19 after recovering from it?
Evidence: Taken together, our results provide crucial insights into the immune response against patients with severe COVID-19 and recovered patients and valuable information for the development of vaccines and therapeutic strategies.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Can Pets Get or Spread COVID-19? No, they 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: Respiratory failure is a Common Cause of Death in Critically Ill Coronavirus Patients
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: There Is No Cure for COVID-19
Question: Does garlic protect against covid-19
Evidence: In late December 2019 in Wuhan, China, several patients with viral pneumonia were identified as 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). So far, there are no specific treatments for patients with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), and the treatments available today are based on previous experience with similar viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and Influenza virus.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 mainly spreads from person to person. 
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: Refutes
Claim: It is safe to take acetaminophen with ibuprofen, and studies show taking them together may even be more effective for certain types of pain than opioid medications.
Question: Can taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) worsen COVID-19?
Evidence: At this time, there is no supporting evidence to discourage the use of ibuprofen.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: if you get flu shots you will not get flu and covid-19
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: social distancing and have seen slowing the spread of COVID-19.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may be stressful for people. 
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: the centralized social distancing is necessary to minimize the pandemic spreading.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Keep in mind: no hand sanitizer can guarantee it's 100 percent effective against the virus that causes COVID-19.
Question: what hand sanitizers kill COVID-19?
Evidence: Most alcohol based hand sanitizers are effective at inactivating enveloped viruses, including coronaviruses.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: there is promising multidrug treatment against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus responsible for causing COVID-19 disease. 
Question: are there any drugs that work for SARS-CoV or SARS-CoV-2 in animals?
Evidence: 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: Supports
Claim: A small number of pets worldwide, including cats and dogs, have been reported to be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19
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: Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil) are both over-the-counter (OTC) medications that can be used to relieve pain caused by covid-19
Question: Can taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) worsen COVID-19?
Evidence: 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: Vitamin D Lower Your Risk of COVID-19
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: The severity of coronavirus 2019 infection (COVID-19) is determined by the presence of pneumonia, severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (SARS-CoV-2), myocarditis, microvascular thrombosis and/or cytokine storms, all of which involve underlying inflammation.
Verdict: Neutral