A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. None of these are legit, even though they were shared widely on social media. The Associated Press checked them out. Here are the facts:
CLAIM: Tonic water or quinine supplements can be used to prevent or treat coronavirus symptoms.
THE FACTS: Medical experts say as of now there is no proven medication or home remedy that can cure coronavirus. Posts circulating on Facebook and Twitter suggest that drinking tonic water from Schweppes or Fever-Tree will work to treat the new coronavirus because the drinks contain quinine.
Quinine is a compound found in the bark of the Cinchona tree and has been used to treat malaria.
Malaria drugs like chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are the synthetic form of quinine.
“I would not encourage anyone to drink tonic water to prevent or treat covid at all,” said Dr. Michael Angarone, assistant professor of infectious diseases at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Social media users appear to be suggesting there is no difference between quinine and hydroxychloroquine, which has been touted by President Donald Trump as a treatment for coronavirus.
Hydroxychloroquine has not been approved as a drug to treat coronavirus and medical experts have not concluded whether the drug is safe or effective for this use.
“The data so far in terms of therapeutic efficacy are pretty shaky,” said Dr. David Hamer, a professor at Boston University School of Public Health and School of Medicine and physician at Boston Medical Center. Other posts tout a combination of tonic water and zinc, an idea that gained traction after a St. Louis chiropractor posted a video recommending the combination.
Experts say there is no scientific evidence that quinine would have any impact if used in this way. The concentration used for medical use is different from the concentration of quinine used in soft drinks, said Dr. Humberto Choi, a pulmonologist at Cleveland Clinic.
As far as taking tonic water and zinc, Choi said while zinc has been studied to see if it could help protect organs against low oxygen supply in cases of severe lung infection or inflammation, it has not been proven to treat the infection itself.
“I don’t think people should be fooled to think they are ingesting something that is causing any benefit to them,” he said.
CLAIM: Maps show a correlation between confirmed COVID-19 cases and locations where 5G wireless service has been installed.
THE FACTS: There’s no evidence that 5G, fifth generation wireless, is related to or causes COVID-19. Photos of two maps placed side by side are being used on social media to suggest they show a correlation between 5G networks and coronavirus hot spots. One map claims to show where confirmed coronavirus cases are located in the U.S., while the other map claims to show where 5G technology was installed. Both are highlighted around population centers.
“Im just gonna leave this right here… For those folks that still dont see whats really going on,” one Facebook post claimed. For months, conspiracy theories have circulated attempting to link the rise in coronavirus cases to 5G networks.
The bogus claim gained fresh attention on social media when China rolled out 5G wireless around the time that coronavirus cases spiked in the country. Then, in early April, numerous cell towers in the U.K. were set on fire after false conspiracy theories circulated linking the coronavirus to 5G networks.
“As we see it, there is absolutely no connection between COVID-19 and the 5G cellular service,” professor Myrtill Simkó told the AP. Simkó is the scientific director of SciProof International in Sweden, and author of a report examining 5G wireless communication and health effects.
Experts studying or working on the rollout of 5G service said the map used in the Facebook post showing service availability does not provide an accurate picture of what’s happening with 5G expansion. For example, T-Mobile has 5G coverage wider than what is shown on the map used in the Facebook post.
“Telecom providers tend to roll out new technologies (not just 5G) in urban areas where the most people can experience the new technology the quickest. That’s why some people see a seeming correlation between 5G availability and urban populations where COVID-19 epicenters have been identified,” a representative with Ookla said in an email to the AP.
CLAIM: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, effective immediately, Walmart is adopting a staggered shopping schedule based on age.
THE FACTS: Walmart is offering special hours for seniors but has not designated times for people to shop by age group. Stores around the U.S. — including Walmart — are offering special hours to cater to seniors, who experts have said could be more vulnerable to the new coronavirus.
A post circulating on Facebook, which features logos for Walmart and Sam’s Club, falsely states that the discount retailer is establishing shopping days based on age groups.
The post apologizes for any inconvenience before breaking out when age groups can shop; Monday age 66+, Tuesday 56-65, Wednesday 46-55, Thursday 36-45, Friday 25-35, Saturday 24 and below, Sunday shopping emergency only.
Rebecca Thomason, a Walmart spokeswoman, said in an email that the schedule is false. Walmart revised its shopping hours to provide for greater social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. They are posted on the company’s website. “From March 24 through April 28, Walmart stores will host an hour-long senior shopping event every Tuesday for customers aged 60 and older. This will start one hour before the store opens,” the company states on its site.