As the world battles to bring Covid-19 infections under control, more and more people are seeking information around the virus.
The World Health Organization says that the pandemic has been accompanied by an "infodemic": "an over-abundance of information – some accurate and some not – that makes it hard for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance when they need it".
Africa Check has been busy fact-checking viral WhatsApp messages, Facebook posts, tweets and news articles. We will continue to do so as long as there is a need for accurate information during this difficult time.
We have grouped our fact-checks into a running list of six broad categories.
- Cures and prevention (51)
- Hoaxes, half-truths and scams (91)
- Manipulated or out of context videos, images and articles (78)
- Conspiracy theories, origins and predictions (10)
- The odd and the bizarre (10)
- Things that are actually true (but you thought they weren’t) (37)
- Audio and podcasts (31)
- On Air: Webinars & media appearances by our staff (23)
Want even more fact-checks?
- Africa Check is part of the CoronaVirusFacts/DatosCoronaVirus Alliance, a collaborative project involving several non-partisan fact-checking organisations and coordinated by the International Fact-Checking Network.
- The project tracked Covid-19 misinformation for months. To access hundreds of these fact-checks in more than 40 languages, click on here to the Database. You can also use the hashtags #CoronaVirusFacts and #DatosCoronaVirus on various social media channels.
- We have also picked some noteworthy fact-checking work by others here: What others have fact-checked
- TIP: type 'coronavirus' in Google's Fact Check Explorer tool for multiple global fact-checks on the new coronavirus. (You'll need to sign in via a Google account).
Do you have questions for us? Please submit them through our dedicated Info Finder Covid-19 page. You can also find answers to the questions you have asked.
Factsheets & Guides FACTSHEET: What we know about Covid-19 and smoking so far FACTSHEET: Coronavirus and the Covid-19 outbreak Your questions about the global pandemic answered Guide: How to vet information during a pandemic In all the uncertainty around the coronavirus, how can you tell fact from fiction? Our guide gives three tips. Five Steps to Fight Fake News and False Information Ask yourself these five questions before sharing a message online. |
Bonus Reads - all about masks:
ANALYSIS: Not all cloth masks are equal, but better than no protection from coronavirus
And on 5G:
FACTSHEET: Five questions about 5G technology answered
More Resources
Are you a reporter battling against the tide of misinformation? Or just keen on learning more about misinformation in this tough period?
- The Verification Handbook for Disinformation and Media Manipulation is online and available to read for free. The book is published by the European Journalism Centre.
- First Draft, a reputable non-profit that tackles information disorder, has come up with a handy toolbox of resources.
- Online investigations experts Bellingcat have a formidable array of tools and guides you can use to conduct online investigations at this difficult time.
- The US-based Poynter Institute has also pulled together a strong box of resources to help journalists, fact-checkers, educators and students cover Covid-19.
Share this #LiveGuide
Many people may feel helpless during this time, especially if they are working from home or self-isolating. But we can all help combat false and misleading information about the novel coronavirus.
Please share this #LiveGuide and encourage your friends and family to share accurate information. Tag @AfricaCheck and use #CoronaVirusFacts.
How to Contact Us Seen something around Covid-19 that you would like checked? Send it to us: Email: [email protected] | Twitter: @Africa Check | Facebook: @AfricaCheck | Or Whatsapp us on +27 73 749 7875 in South Africa, +254 729 305650 in Kenya and +234 908 377 7789 in Nigeria. You can also subscribe to our popular What's Crap on WhatsApp voice note show by adding +27 82 709 3527 as a contact into your phone and sending us a message to confirm, or by clicking here. |
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