jpd459/healthver_resplit_larger huggingface dataset:
Claim: Does Wearing a Mask Protect Me? Some Evidence Says Yes
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: Refutes
Claim: COVID and the flu have similar symptoms
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: Refutes
Claim: immune system protects us against the invader and can even be helpful for its therapy. But sometimes it can turn against us.
Question: will SARS-CoV2 infected people develop immunity?
Evidence: Knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of viral cycles and immunity is an important prerequisite for the development of vaccination strategies and development of effective drugs.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: hydroxychloroquine helped coronavirus patients survive better
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: Currently there is no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with food.
Question: Can COVID-19 spread through food?
Evidence: Food systems at all levelsglobally, domestically, locally, and in the home are expected to be highly affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: SARS-CoV-2, can live on surfaces and it can live for varying lengths of time on different surfaces.
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence: Human Coronavirus 229E Remains Infectious on Common Touch Surface Materials
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Aspirin in honey, raw garlic: Dubious COVID-19 'cures' spread
Question: Does garlic protect against covid-19
Evidence: In conclusion, Allium sativum may be an acceptable preventive measure against COVID-19 infection to boost immune system cells and to repress the production and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines as well as an adipose tissue derived hormone leptin having the proinflammatory nature.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: You can recover from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Catching the new coronavirus does not mean you will have it for life.
Question: Can people recover from COVID-19?
Evidence: In this situation, it is imperative to understand the possible outcome of COVID-19 recovered patients and determine if they have any other detrimental illnesses by longitudinal analysis to safeguard their life in future.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: masks with exhalation valves do not prevent the person wearing the mask from transmitting COVID-19 to others.
Question: How much impact do masks have on preventing the spread of the COVID-19?
Evidence: Model simulations, using data relevant to COVID-19 dynamics in the US states of New York and Washington, suggest that broad adoption of even relatively ineffective face masks may meaningfully reduce community transmission of COVID-19 and decrease peak hospitalizations and deaths.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: quercetin and vitamin C is a potential COVID-19 therapy
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: While no clinical trials have tested the vitamin's efficacy as a treatment or a preventive measure, several studies have found an association between low levels of vitamin D and 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: Additionally, even if you are low risk (healthy, young), social distancing can reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19 and passing it on to someone around you that is at risk.
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: The Australian and New Zealand governments both initiated strict social distancing measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in late March. It remains difficult to quantify the impact this had in reducing the spread of the virus.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Coronaviruses are transmitted between humans and animals -- that's the zoo in zoonotic. 
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: if your immune system is string, covid-19 can not harm your body
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: 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: To date, understanding whether acquired immunity and presence of anti SARSCov2 antibodies protects against reinfection is one the most important focus of the scientific community
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Cloth masks help protect others from contracting covid-19
Question: How much impact do masks have on preventing the spread of the COVID-19?
Evidence: It would therefore be reasonable to suggest that consistent widespread use of face masks in the community could prevent further spread of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
Verdict: Supports
Claim: oronavirus infections requiring hospitalization are not only possible in younger adults, but the rate of these cases is higher now that the virus is spreading across other countries.
Question: what are the mortality rates overall and in specific populations
Evidence: As COVID-19 mortality occurs mainly in elderly and as Africa has a comparably young population, the death rates should be lower than on other continents. We calculated standardised mortality ratios (SMR) using age-specific case fatality rates for COVID-19 and the age structure of the population of Africa and of other continents. Compared to a European or Northern American population, the standardised mortality ratio was only 0.22 and 0.25, respectively, corresponding to reduction of deaths rates to a quarter. Compared to the Asian and Latin American & Caribbean population, the SMR was 0.43 and 0.44, respectively, corresponding to half the death rate for Africa.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Patients with a history of a bone marrow transplant are at higher risk, too, because their immune system would be suppressed long-term.
Question: will SARS-CoV2 infected people develop immunity?
Evidence: we discovered evidence that SARS-CoV-2, along with related coronaviruses, used mutations to evade attack from the human immune system. Overall, we present an immunological resource for SARS-CoV-2 that could promote both therapeutic development and mechanistic research.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Vitamin D can Protect Me from Coronavirus
Question: Does Vitamin C impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: Dietary supplementation has not been linked to COVID-19 prevention.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: A cytokine storm becomes an all-too-frequent phenomenon, particularly among the young. But treatments are being tested.
Question: will SARS-CoV2 infected people develop immunity?
Evidence:  According to this hypothesis vaccine formulations (tetanus, diphtheria, Bordetella pertussis) could be re-administrate after the first contact with Covid-19, better before the development of respiratory severe illness and of course before full-blown ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome). The CD4+ memory exploiting could help immune system to recall immunity of already know antigens against coronaviruses, avoiding or limiting lung crash until virus specific immunity develops and making it faster and prolonged. 
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: coronavirus can live on your clothes and shoes
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence: Human Coronavirus 229E Remains Infectious on Common Touch Surface Materials
Verdict: Supports
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 simple model shows that modest efficacy of masks could avert substantial mortality in this scenario. Importantly, the effects on mortality became hyper-sensitive to mask-wearing as the effective R approaches 1, i.e. near the tipping point of when the infection trajectory is expected to revert to exponential growth, as would be expected after effective lockdown. Our model suggests that mask-wearing might exert maximal benefit as nations plan their post-lockdown strategies and suggests that mask-wearing should be included in further more sophisticated models of the current pandemic.
Verdict: Supports
Claim:  the patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19 and compared details of the patients who passed away and patients that survived.
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: Social distancing reduces mobility that can cause COVID-19 spread
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: counties where the policies have been imposed have effectively increased social distancing and have seen slowing the spread of COVID-19.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Widely used drugs to control high blood pressure do not help protect against severe Covid-19
Question: what kinds of complications related to COVID-19 are associated with hypertension?
Evidence: Hypertension appeared consistently as the most prevalent risk factors in COVID-19 patients.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Fever-reducing medicine such as ibuprofen could worsen COVID-19
Question: Can taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) worsen COVID-19?
Evidence: the safety of ibuprofen in COVID-19 patients has been questioned due to anecdotal reports of worsening symptoms in previously healthy young adults.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: During the COVID-19 pandemic, having a strong immune system to stave off infection from the new coronavirus can only be an advantage. 
Question: will SARS-CoV2 infected people develop immunity?
Evidence:  According to this hypothesis vaccine formulations (tetanus, diphtheria, Bordetella pertussis) could be re-administrate after the first contact with Covid-19, better before the development of respiratory severe illness and of course before full-blown ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome). The CD4+ memory exploiting could help immune system to recall immunity of already know antigens against coronaviruses, avoiding or limiting lung crash until virus specific immunity develops and making it faster and prolonged. 
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is caused by bacteria
Question: what are the early symptoms of COVID-19?
Evidence: Gustatory Dysfunction as an Early Symptom in COVID-19 Screening
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Everyone who get the coronavirus will die
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: Neutral
Claim: Doctors on the frontlines still lack a proven treatment for the disease as researchers race to develop a vaccine.
Question: Are there any antiviral drugs to treat the coronavirus disease? 
Evidence: Several drugs such as chloroquine, arbidol, remdesivir, and favipiravir are currently undergoing clinical studies to test their efficacy and safety in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China; some promising results have been achieved thus far.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: I got the coronavirus, but I treated myself solely with medicinal herbs
Question: Does garlic protect against covid-19
Evidence: In conclusion, Allium sativum may be an acceptable preventive measure against COVID-19 infection to boost immune system cells and to repress the production and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines as well as an adipose tissue derived hormone leptin having the proinflammatory nature.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: No evidence drinking tea can cure or relieve symptoms of covid-19
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: Supports
Claim: The coronavirus isn't real, so masking isn't necessary
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: Refutes
Claim: covid-19 originates from sexual contact
Question: what is the origin of COVID-19
Evidence: This paper investigates the COVID-19 virus origin by using artificial intelligence (AI) and raw genomic sequences of the virus.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: coronavirus can not survive for up to 1 hours on plastic, and surface or fomite (contaminated surface) transmission is 'unlikely'.
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence: Frequent touching of contaminated surfaces in public areas is therefore a potential route of SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Now a days, due to staying indoors, it is possible that you will develop the deficiency of vitamin D.
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: Vitamin D deficiency that is not sufficiently treated is associated with COVID-19 risk.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Having high blood pressure may make coronavirus more dangerous.
Question: what kinds of complications related to COVID-19 are associated with hypertension?
Evidence: Hypertension was associated with increased composite poor outcome, including mortality, severe COVID-19, ARDS, need for ICU care and disease progression in patients with COVID-19.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: we have not seen any scientifically reliable data to support an association between the use of ibuprofen and worsened outcomes from COVID-19.
Question: Are Tylenol, Advil and Motrin effective and safe to take for COVID-19 symptoms?
Evidence: Currently, it is not possible to discuss the efficacy and safety of a drug in the treatment of COVID-19, as most studies have just begun.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Because people are advised to stay at home as much as possible, people sould take vitamin D supplements through summer and autumn during this pandemic to prevent covid-19.
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: 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: 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: social distancing is associated with a statistically-significant reduction in the doubling rate for all but three states.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Hot peppers in your food, though very tasty, cannot prevent or cure COVID-19. 
Question: what are the early symptoms of COVID-19?
Evidence: Gustatory Dysfunction as an Early Symptom in COVID-19 Screening
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: SARS-CoV-2 can use neuropilin-1, which is strongly expressed by endothelial cells and epithelial cells facing the nasal cavity
Question: are there any drugs that work for SARS-CoV or SARS-CoV-2 in animals?
Evidence: There is no therapeutic FDA-approved drug against SARS-CoV-2 infection, although a combination of anti-viral drugs is directly being practiced in some countries. 
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Does Wearing a Mask Protect Me? Some Evidence Says Yes
Question: Can face masks protect me from the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: 2) addresses controversies surrounding the mask from perspectives of attitude, effectiveness, and necessity of wearing the mask with evidence that the use of mask would effectively interrupt the transmission of infectious diseases in both hospital settings and community settings;
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Smokers 'four times less likely' to contract Covid-19
Question: Can smoking help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: At this time there is no clear evidence that smoking is protective against COVID-19, so the established recommendations to avoid smoking should be emphasized.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: in vivo preclinical results with favipiravir which indicate that antiviral efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 might only be achieved with a very high dose.
Question: are there any drugs that work for SARS-CoV or SARS-CoV-2 in animals?
Evidence: At this point, the data here presented on hydroxychloroquine either alone or combined with azithromycin (together with previously reported in vivo data in macaques and ferrets) provide no scientific basis for further use of the drug in humans.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Do people ever recover from COVID-19?. 'People who have already got diabetes or heart disease or high blood pressure seem to be more badly affected by the disease.'
Question: Can people recover from COVID-19?
Evidence: In this situation, it is imperative to understand the possible outcome of COVID-19 recovered patients and determine if they have any other detrimental illnesses by longitudinal analysis to safeguard their life in future.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Results on the use of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for Covid-19 have shown no significant differences in health outcomes between the control group and patients who received the experimental drug. 
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: Does nicotine protect against coronavirus? Not exactly.
Question: Can smoking help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Cannabis thus joins tobacco as a SARS2-CoV-2 risk factor.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Hand sanitizer has also been shown to be less effective than hand-washing at preventing the flu
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: Some say that's not a problem because the vast majority of children don't get severely ill from COVID-19.
Question: Can children get COVID-19?
Evidence: We conducted a retrospective analysis of children with suspected COVID-19 at a Specialist Childrens Hospital to determine outcomes based on COVID-19 testing status and underlying health vulnerabilities.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: certain cannabis strains may reduce COVID-19's ability to infect the lungs other susceptible tissues along the intestines and oral cavity.
Question: Can smoking cannabis (weed) help in preventing COVID-19?
Evidence: Cannabis thus joins tobacco as a SARS2-CoV-2 risk factor.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole and vonoprazan, reduce the infection of cells by SARS-CoV-2
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: phony product to prevent sars-cov-2 - use a silver spray instead of hand sanitizer
Question: what hand sanitizers kill COVID-19?
Evidence: By extrapolating effectiveness of hand sanitizers on viruses of similar structure to SARS-CoV-2, this virus should be effectively inactivated with current hand hygiene products
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: There is Potential Role of Social Distancing in Mitigating Spread of Coronavirus Disease
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: social distancing is associated with a statistically-significant reduction in the doubling rate for all but three states.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: With the so-called neutrophils and the monocytes we have found that these immune cells are activated, i.e. ready to defend the patient against COVID-19 in the case of mild disease courses.
Question: will SARS-CoV2 infected people develop immunity?
Evidence: Knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of viral cycles and immunity is an important prerequisite for the development of vaccination strategies and development of effective drugs.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: At this point, we don't know enough about coronavirus to understand how it's going to behave over time when the weather warms up.
Question: how does the coronavirus respond to changes in the weather
Evidence: The current study focuses on the relationship between environmental parameters and the growth rate of COVID-19. The statistical analysis suggests that the temperature changes retarded the growth rate and found that -6.28C and +14.51C temperature is the favorable range for COVID-19 growth.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Most people recover from Covid-19.
Question: Can people recover from COVID-19?
Evidence: Most patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) who show mild symptoms are sent home by physicians to recover.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: COVID-19 is different from other coronaviruses that cause mild illness, such as the common cold.
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: coronavirus can not survive for up to 1 hours on plastic, and surface or fomite (contaminated surface) transmission is 'unlikely'.
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence: Human Coronavirus 229E Remains Infectious on Common Touch Surface Materials
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: The coronavirus pandemic can be dramatically slowed, or stopped, with the immediate widespread use of high doses of vitamin C.
Question: Does Vitamin C impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: We identified a total of 17 patients who received IV vitamin C for COVID-19. The inpatient mortality rate in this series was 12% with 17.6% rates of intubation and mechanical ventilation. We noted a significant decrease in inflammatory markers, including ferritin and D-dimer, and a trend to decreasing FiO2 requirements, after vitamin C administration. 
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: 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: CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of COVID-19 patients, ibuprofen use was not associated with worse clinical outcomes, compared with paracetamol or no antipyretic.
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: 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: immune system response varies between patients
Question: will SARS-CoV2 infected people develop immunity?
Evidence:  According to this hypothesis vaccine formulations (tetanus, diphtheria, Bordetella pertussis) could be re-administrate after the first contact with Covid-19, better before the development of respiratory severe illness and of course before full-blown ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome). The CD4+ memory exploiting could help immune system to recall immunity of already know antigens against coronaviruses, avoiding or limiting lung crash until virus specific immunity develops and making it faster and prolonged. 
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: The virus spreads by respiratory droplets released when someone infected with the virus coughs, sneezes or talks. These droplets can be inhaled or land in the mouth or nose of a person nearby.
Question: Can face masks protect me from the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: 2) addresses controversies surrounding the mask from perspectives of attitude, effectiveness, and necessity of wearing the mask with evidence that the use of mask would effectively interrupt the transmission of infectious diseases in both hospital settings and community settings;
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: no evidence COVID-19 impact on mental health
Question: How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted mental health?
Evidence: Various psychological problems and important consequences in terms of mental health including stress, anxiety, depression, frustration, uncertainty during COVID-19 outbreak emerged progressively.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: remdesivir was superior to placebo in shortening the time to recovery in adults who were hospitalized with Covid-19 and had evidence of lower respiratory tract infection. 
Question: is remdesivir an effective treatment for COVID-19?
Evidence: remdesivir is not sufficient on its own and may be suitable in combination with other antivirals or treatments such as convalescent plasma.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: One mostly overlooked factor that could influence outcome of COVID-19 is the relative vitamin D status of populations.
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: In Middle East, the recovery rate (r= 0.267) and mortality rate (r= -0.217) showed a medium correlation.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: The Connection Between COVID-19 and Diabetes People with diabetes aren't more likely to catch the virus than other people.
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: Refutes
Claim: Lockdowns and Mask Mandates Do Not Lead to Reduced COVID transmission rates or deaths
Question: How much impact do masks have on preventing the spread of the COVID-19?
Evidence: It would therefore be reasonable to suggest that consistent widespread use of face masks in the community could prevent further spread of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: the drugs do not increase the risk that hospitalized patients with COVID-19 will develop severe complications or die. 
Question: are patients taking Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE) inhibitors at increased risk for COVID-19?
Evidence: Patients who take ACEIs and ARBS may be at increased risk of severe disease outcomes due to SARS-CoV-2 infections.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Asymptomatic Carriers May Still Transmit Coronavirus
Question: what is known about people that have COVID-19 without any symptoms?
Evidence: The median communicable period, defined as the interval from the first day of positive nucleic acid tests to the first day of continuous negative tests, was 9.5 days (up to 21 days among the 24 asymptomatic cases). Through epidemiological investigation, we observed a typical asymptomatic transmission to the cohabiting family members
Verdict: Supports
Claim: you can take acetaminophen (Tylenol) for fever and other symptoms. If you already take NSAIDs regularly, you do not need to stop.
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: The discovery of angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) as the receptor for SARS- CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2) has implicated the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and respiratory failure in patients with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19).
Question: are patients taking Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE) inhibitors at increased risk for COVID-19?
Evidence:  current evidence did not confirm the concern that ACEI/ARB exposure is harmful in patientswith COVID-19 infection. This study supports the current guidelines that discourage discontinuation of ACEIs or ARBs in COVID-19 patients and the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: dexamethasone is not effective to treat covid-19
Question: Is dexamethasone effective for treating COVID-19?
Evidence: The dexamethasone was top-ranked in the prediction, which was the first reported drug to be able to significantly reduce the death rate of COVID-19 patients receiving respiratory support.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Sunlight (UV light) can kill the virus.
Question: Does UV light help in preventing covid-19?
Evidence:  Based on the mechanisms described earlier, our hypothesis is that light could reduce the lethality of COVID-19.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: COVID-19 is a seasonal disease
Question: how does the coronavirus respond to changes in the weather
Evidence: Preliminary observations from our team and others suggest that temperature and climatological factors could influence the spread of this novel coronavirus
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Coronavirus Origin "When you look at the genetic sequence of the virus, and you match it up with every known coronavirus, the closest relatives are from bats
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: 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: the association between DM and COVID-19-induced severe complications is still unclear
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: vitamin D play a pivotal rolein viral covid-19 infections.
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: coronavirus can not survive for up to 1 hours on plastic, and surface or fomite (contaminated surface) transmission is 'unlikely'.
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence: Most viruses from the respiratory tract, such as coronaviruses, influenza, SARS-CoV, or rhinovirus, can persist on surfaces for a few days.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: hand dryers are effective in killing the new covid-19
Question: what hand sanitizers kill COVID-19?
Evidence: By extrapolating effectiveness of hand sanitizers on viruses of similar structure to SARS-CoV-2, this virus should be effectively inactivated with current hand hygiene products
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Old malaria drug hydroxychloroquine may help cure the new coronavirus
Question: does hydroxychloroquine treat COVID-19?
Evidence: The available evidence suggests that CQ or HCQ does not improve clinical outcomes in COVID-19.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Coronavirus definition is - any of a family (Coronaviridae) of large single-stranded RNA viruses that have a lipid envelope studded with club-shaped spike proteins, infect birds and many mammals including humans, and include the causative agents of MERS, SARS, and COVID-19 -abbreviation CoV, CV.
Question: what is the origin of COVID-19
Evidence: Covid19 infection began in Wuhan (Hubei, China) in December, 2019.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: snow kills coronavirus 2019.
Question: how does the coronavirus respond to changes in the weather
Evidence: in northern China the negative effects of rising temperature on COVID-19 is counteracted by aggravated air pollution
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: In the first in a series of conversations on the science of COVID-19, we learn how the hot weather is affecting the movement of the novel coronavirus.
Question: how does the coronavirus respond to changes in the weather
Evidence: These results provide evidence for the relationship between several weather variables and the spread of COVID-19. However, the (conservatively) estimated relationships are not strong enough to seasonally control the epidemic in most locations.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Although face masks can reduce transmission of the Covid-19 virus, not completely. 
Question: Can wearing masks help in preventing the spread of the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: This study 1) illustrates transmission routes of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); 2) addresses controversies surrounding the mask from perspectives of attitude, effectiveness, and necessity of wearing the mask with evidence that the use of mask would effectively interrupt the transmission of infectious diseases in both hospital settings and community settings; and 3) provides suggestion that the public should wear the mask during COVID-19 pandemic according to local context.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: One mostly overlooked factor that could influence outcome of COVID-19 is the relative vitamin D status of populations.
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: 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: But until we understand more about who is a carrier of COVID-19, the goal of wearing a mask should be to protect others from your own respiratory droplets. And any mask is better than no mask.
Question: Does a surgical mask help avoid COVID-19?
Evidence: Surgical mask partition reduces the risk of non-contact transmission in a golden Syrian hamster model for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Public health actions, such as social distancing, can make people feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety. However, these actions are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19. 
Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19?
Evidence: The decentralized strategy is insufficient when used alone, but offers the best results when combined with the centralized one. Indeed, the (C+D) is the most efficient isolation strategy at mitigating the network superspreaders and reducing the highest node degrees to less than 10% of their initial values.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: The coronavirus isn't real, so masking isn't necessary
Question: Can wearing masks help in preventing the spread of the coronavirus disease?
Evidence: Wearing medical masks or N95 masks (namely N95 respirators) can slow the virus spread and reduce the infection risk.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Having high blood pressure may make coronavirus more dangerous.
Question: what kinds of complications related to COVID-19 are associated with hypertension?
Evidence: Pre-existing comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease are associated with a greater severity and higher fatality rate of covid-19.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Critically ill patients have robust immunity to new coronavirus
Question: will SARS-CoV2 infected people develop immunity?
Evidence: we discovered evidence that SARS-CoV-2, along with related coronaviruses, used mutations to evade attack from the human immune system. Overall, we present an immunological resource for SARS-CoV-2 that could promote both therapeutic development and mechanistic research.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a viral infection that causes COVID-19. Symptoms can affect the airways and lungs, although this may vary from person to person.
Question: what are the early symptoms of COVID-19?
Evidence: Anosmia and ageusia as primary symptoms of COVID-19
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: The rate of coronavirus cases per capita is still much higher among younger people than older ones
Question: what are the mortality rates overall and in specific populations
Evidence: We estimate an overall infection fatality rate of 1.29% (95% credible interval [CrI] 0.89 - 2.01), as well as large differences by age, with a low infection fatality rate of 0.05% for under 60 year old (CrI 0-.19) and a substantially higher 4.25% (CrI 3.01-6.39) for people above 60 years of age.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: There is evidence that under certain conditions, people with COVID-19 seem to have infected others who were more than 6 feet away.
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: Supports
Claim: Winter Weather Could Increase Spread of COVID-19
Question: how does the coronavirus respond to changes in the weather
Evidence: In the southern cities, the ambient temperature and air pollution have a negative interactive effect on COVID-19 transmission, implying that rising temperature restrains the facilitating effects of air pollution and that they jointly lead to a decrease in new confirmed cases.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: In fact, there's a lot of research looking at vitamin C to help prevent the common cold and it has shown to not be effective.
Question: Does Vitamin C impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: Some nutrients are actively involved in the proper functioning and strengthening of the human immune system against viral infections including dietary protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, iron, zinc, and selenium. Few studies were done on the effect of dietary components on prevention of COVID-19, but supplementation with these nutrients may be effective in improving the health status of patients with viral infections.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: Can children get COVID-19? Sean O'Leary, MD, MPH, FAAP Answer Yes
Question: Can children get COVID-19?
Evidence: The Risk of Children Hospitalized With Severe COVID-19 in Wuhan.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: SARS-CoV-2 is more stable copper and cardboard
Question: touching a contaminated surface will not make you sick
Evidence: Surfaces near patients hospitalized with respiratory infections were frequently contaminated by pathogens, with Klebsiella pneumoniae being most common, highlighting the potential for transmission of respiratory pathogens via surfaces.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: COVID-19 spreads less commonlythrough contact with contaminated surfaces, and rarely between people and animals.
Question: Can animals spread COVID-19 to people?
Evidence: Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is now a pandemic threat. This virus is supposed to be spread by human to human transmission. 
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: Patients with sufficient levels of vitamin D are less likely to experience complications and die from COVID-19
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: 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: The likelihood of shoes spreading COVID-19 is very low
Question: what are the early symptoms of COVID-19?
Evidence: Gustatory Dysfunction as an Early Symptom in COVID-19 Screening
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: Most people who get COVID-19 recover from it
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: acetaminophen (Tylenol), naproxen (Aleve) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) drugs can certainly make you feel a whole lot more comfortable when you're sick with 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: Treatment with hydroxychloroquine cut the death rate significantly in sick patients hospitalized with COVID-19 - and without heart-related side-effects
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: There is no reason to believe that cold weather can kill the new coronavirus or other diseases.
Question: how does the coronavirus respond to changes in the weather
Evidence: We show that the delay between exposure and detection of infection complicates the estimation of weather impact on COVID-19 transmission, potentially explaining significant variability in results to-date
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: We do not recommend people wear masks to prevent transmitting the covid-19 if you do not have symptoms.
Question: Does a surgical mask help avoid COVID-19?
Evidence: Surgical mask partition for challenged index or nave hamsters significantly reduced transmission to 25% (6/24, P=0.018). Surgical mask partition for challenged index hamsters significantly reduced transmission to only 16.7% (2/12, P=0.019) of exposed nave hamsters.
Verdict: Refutes
Claim: COVID-19 and low levels of vitamin D appear to disproportionately affect black and minority ethnic individuals.
Question: Does Vitamin D impact COVID-19 prevention and treatment?
Evidence: Vitamin D deficiency that is not sufficiently treated is associated with COVID-19 risk.
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: 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: It would therefore be reasonable to suggest that consistent widespread use of face masks in the community could prevent further spread of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
Verdict: Supports
Claim: The coronavirus can impact the heart muscle long after diagnosis. Long-term COVID-19.
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: 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: 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: Refutes
Claim: Scientists were able to prove that the virus evolved naturally in animals before jumping to humans.
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: the use of fever-lowering such as  paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) over-the-counter medicines to cope with COVID-19 symptoms is recommended.
Question: Can taking medication to lower fever, such as paracetamol (tylenol) and ibuprofen (advil) worsen COVID-19?
Evidence: Ibuprofen is an over-the-counter medication that is used widely for the treatment of pain and fever during COVID-19 pandemic.
Verdict: Supports
Claim: nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) - such as lockdowns, closures, travel restrictions, stay-home orders, event bans, quarantines, curfews, and mask mandates - do not seem to affect COVID-19 transmission rates overall. 
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: 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: We show that the delay between exposure and detection of infection complicates the estimation of weather impact on COVID-19 transmission, potentially explaining significant variability in results to-date
Verdict: Neutral
Claim: You Probably Can't Get COVID-19 Twice
Question: Do antibodies make you immune to COVID-19?
Evidence: Severe patients (n=38) develop a robust antibody response to SARS-CoV-2, including IgG and IgA antibodies.
Verdict: Refutes