Delta

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…

When a new variant is found to be spreading, does the old variant instantly disappear? Do people test positive for specific COVID-19 variants if they take a rapid antigen or a PCR test? No, neither of these assumptions are true: The initial testing for SARS-CoV-2 can only tell a person if they are infected or not. That test result does…

Was the definition of what constitutes a positive COVID-19 test changed to include the omicron variant? No, that's not true: The variant (SARS-CoV-2, B.1.1.529) was first reported to the World Health Organization from South Africa on November 24, 2021. And while one widely used COVID PCR test sometimes misses one of the three key target genes, such a result can…

Did 67 children ages 5-14 die from COVID-19 in 2020? Yes (68, to be precise), but this chart comparing that to the much higher death tolls from traffic accidents, fires and other causes obscures the risk posed by children's infections, which though rarely fatal to the child, are increasing and can spread and add to the adult cases, hundreds of…

Was the B.1.1.529 variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus named "Omicron" so that a glyph in the shape of an eye could be combined with the Greek letter Delta to reveal a secret Illuminati symbol? No, that's not true: Among other reasons, the Greek letter Omicron is represented by a circle, not an eye. The misleading pictogram puzzle meme appeared on…

Do fully vaccinated people account for nine in every 10 COVID-19 deaths in Scotland? Yes, that's a bit exaggerated yet true: But simple ratio analysis based on that statistic doesn't tell the story fully. The figures are found in the COVID-19 weekly report for Scotland published December 1, 2021. That report warns users that "the total number of COVID-19 cases,…

Are symptoms of the omicron variant being used to cover up effects of COVID-19 vaccines? No, there is no evidence that there is a cover-up of COVID vaccine adverse effects via symptoms of the new omicron variant. An article making that claim gives no scientific, medical or reputably published proof. It also repeats a false claim that 183 professional athletes…

Do fully vaccinated people account for four in every five recent COVID-19 deaths in the UK? Yes, that's true: But simple ratio analysis based on that statistic doesn't tell the story fully. The figures are found in the COVID-19 vaccine surveillance report - Week 47 by the UK Health Security Agency published on November 25, 2021. That report warns users…

Will the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine kill 117 children ages 5 to 11 to save one child from dying of the virus? No, that's not true: There is no evidence to support that claim, which was made using data reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), an unverified alert system. The accuracy and significance of VAERS reports is unclear…

Did Dr. Anthony Fauci admit that COVID vaccines did not work as advertised and that the vaccinated are in great danger? No, that's not true. The director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Biden administration's chief medical adviser strongly and consistently endorses the vaccination effort and has never suggested the vaccinated are at risk.…