Is the purpose of COVID-19 vaccines to "kill off a large proportion of the population"? No, there's no evidence that's true: The idea stems from a sprawling conspiracy theory that alternately posits COVID, the vaccines or both as being manufactured with the goal of depopulating Earth. The claim was made by "Dr. Shankara Chetty" during a video interview (archived here)…

Do respirator masks prescribed to reduce viral spread contain nano-robot parasites called Morgellons? No, that's not true: "Nano" describes structures one billionth of a meter across, which makes the video images impossible, since it shows a fingertip alongside the purported nano-bot. Scientists have been unable to verify the existence of any parasite that could be causing "Morgellons Disease," which the…

Is the omicron variant of COVID-19 spreading faster than any virus in history? No, that's not true: The omicron variant is extremely contagious but does not spread as quickly as measles, which is the most infectious virus. Dr. Claudia Hoyen at University Hospitals in Cleveland said during a December 21, 2021, news conference that "Omicron is the second most contagious…

Does the International Criminal Court (ICC) have a "case" before it concerning serious crimes related to COVID-19? No, that's not true: Although a complaint was filed alleging crimes committed against people in the United Kingdom related to COVID, the ICC has not stated whether the complaint is now a "case." The claim originated from a complaint found on a page…

Did CNN medical analyst Dr. Leana Wen say, "Don't wear a cloth mask. Cloth masks are little more than facial decorations"? Yes, she did say that when speaking about the possibility of New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio canceling the New Year's Eve ball drop in Times Square -- but in addition to those 13 words, she spoke several…

Did Reba McEntire talk about relieving arthritis and back pain with CBD gummies in this short video clip? No, that's not true: This clip of McEntire speaking was taken from a live TikTok broadcast where she briefly talked about having been sick with COVID-19 and encouraged her audience to be safe. In a 2020 interview McEntire told pridesource.com that she…

Did UNICEF and several agencies and organizations based in the United Kingdom endorse a graphic that includes misinformation about masks? No, that's not true: Six of the eight agencies and organizations included in the graphic told Lead Stories they did not co-sign the inaccurate graphic, which nonetheless pasted on their logos, including two obsolete logos. Lead Stories awaits updates from…

Did the mayor of River City, California, make a proclamation that all dogs must wear face masks to protect them from getting sick or else their owners will be cited by police and fined? No, that's not true: The River City, California, Police Department Facebook Page is a satire page for a fictional city, and satire disclaimers are clearly posted…

Was a German chemist murdered for exposing the truth about graphene hydroxide in COVID-19 vaccines? No, that's not true: There is no evidence Dr. Andreas Noack died from unnatural causes. A spokesperson for the Landespolizeidirektion Kärnten, the state police headquarters in the Austrian state of Carinthia, confirmed Noack's death in a December 7, 2021, phone call to Lead Stories. Details…

Did "the media" ignore the announcement by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that it was suspending the government's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for some businesses? No, that's not true: National news organizations including CBS News, Fox News and CNBC, and online publications including The Hill and Forbes all provided coverage on the temporary suspension. The claim was in a…