Facemasks

Did a study prove that wearing face masks raises the risk of stillbirths, testicular dysfunction and cognitive decline "due to build-up of carbon dioxide" (CO2)? No, that's not true: A "study" shared widely to social media was actually a review article of existing scientific studies -- not directly related to mask-wearing -- that a medical expert told Lead Stories was…

Is polypropylene from face masks a major source of microplastics in our lungs? No, that's not true: The benefits of wearing masks outweigh the risks. Microplastics (MPs) can be found throughout the environment. Nearly two-thirds of MPs come from synthetic clothing and textiles and the wear of tires while driving, according to a 2017 report from the International Union for…

Did this "Stanford Study" prove that face masks don't slow the spread of COVID-19 and harm the health of mask-wearers? No, that's not true: Stanford University disavows the article, which is not a report on new research and is full of the kind of spelling and grammar errors not found in journals by and for science professionals. It is, as…

Is there "still no evidence masks or lockdowns slow the spread of COVID-19"? No, that's not true: The claim was posted with no citation of studies disproving the effectiveness of masks and lockdowns. On the other hand, there are now dozens of scientific studies published showing that wearing masks and instituting lockdowns or stay-at-home orders have been effective in slowing…

Is Maine's rise in COVID-19 cases linked to face mask use? No, that is misleading: A social media post showed a newspaper article claiming that the surge in coronavirus cases in Maine were the result of Gov. Janet Mills' mandate for citizens of the New England state to wear face masks. The claim uses statistics from a CDC published study…

Does a new CDC and WHO study prove there is no evidence that face masks prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus? No, that's not true. The study is not "new" as claimed in a Russian-sponsored YouTube video and it does not conclude that face coverings don't help in reducing the transmission of the virus that leads to COVID-19. The…

Did a test using a gas monitor show that face masks cause oxygen levels to drop into the "danger zone?" No, that's not true: The demonstration conducted by Ohio State Rep. Nino Vitale is flawed and misleading, according to a senior engineer with the company that makes the gas monitor. The claim appeared as a video on YouTube (archived here)…

Are nonsurgical ear-loop masks useless at offering protection from COVID-19? No, that's not true: While the labeling on an ear loop mask box does say the wearer is not protected from COVID-19, the purpose of a mask is to protect other people from viruses that may be spread by the wearer. Studies concluded the mask protects other people who are…

Did a meme provide five accurate reasons why people should not wear masks amid the novel coronavirus outbreak? No, several of the reasons were misleading. A viral post about why "I don't wear a mask" gives five reasons not to don a face covering to fight COVID-19, but several of them have been debunked by Lead Stories and other organizations…

Did Joe Biden accept a campaign donation from Antifa? No, that's not true: This story comes from a satire website and nothing published by this network is true. There is no evidence that the presumptive Democratic nominee for president has received campaign donations from Antifa, which is a movement and not an organization. The story originated as an article (archived…