Our work on satellite images of ‘burning bodies’ in Wuhan and blood pressure medication made an impact

21 February 2020 | Facts and news from Full Fact
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** FACT CHECK
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** Full Fact gets six national newspapers to correct false claims
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The fight against bad information doesn't stop once we publish a fact check. When prominent people get something wrong, we ensure they correct themselves to help prevent false and harmful claims from continuing to spread.

Last week, we told you that the Daily Mirror misreported that a health study found 82% of people prescribed statins or blood pressure pills were more likely to gain weight. In fact, the study concluded that the risk of becoming obese increased by 82% among those taking the medication.

The Daily Mirror has printed a correction note explaining its error.

We also highlighted several newspapers’ false claims that maps showing high levels of sulphur dioxide in the Wuhan region of China were evidence of mass cremations of coronavirus victims. They were simply forecasts – not real, observed data.

The Metro and Daily Mail changed their articles entirely to say that the images had been debunked, using quotes from Full Fact’s interview with a NASA scientist. The Express and the Sun deleted their articles, with the Express issuing a correction note explaining the error.

And the Guardian corrected its claim that the proportion of people with a job who live in poverty went up for the third consecutive year in 2018 to a record high. This was incorrect.

As Full Fact clarified, this figure has not increased, but what is a record high is the proportion of families in poverty with a job.
Incorrect reporting ([link removed])


** BLOG
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** Helping the truth catch up: how research can fight bad information ([link removed])
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From well-trodden climate science conspiracies to dangerous social media “beauty hacks”, tackling bad information can be a daunting challenge.

Our Research Team decided it was time for the truth to catch up—joining forces with global partners Chequeado and Africa Check to track down the latest evidence on bad information, and how we can protect more people from the harm it causes.

Check your inbox this Saturday morning for the first of the series.

Our research ([link removed])
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This week, we have seen a raft of misleading newspaper reports on the topic of health - in particular on the coronavirus and its origins. At best, it causes unnecessary anxiety. At worst, it has the potential to cause real harm to people’s lives.

If, like us, you care about accurate reporting on such sensitive matters, will you help us hold journalists to account?

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** FACT CHECK
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** No, it’s not illegal to drive while wearing pyjamas ([link removed])
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A post claiming that driving with pyjamas on is illegal in the UK turned out to be based on an April Fools’ Day joke from 2017. Nonetheless, it was shared hundreds of times on Facebook.

The Highway Code’s recommendation for drivers’ clothing is as follows: “You should ensure that clothing and footwear do not prevent you using the controls in the correct manner.”
Urban legends ([link removed])


** FACT CHECK
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** Also this week...
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* Contrary to reports, women who have had ten or more sexual partners do not double their risk of getting cancer ([link removed])
* Have wages passed their pre-financial crisis level? Not if you include bonuses ([link removed])
* There is no evidence that coronavirus (Covid-19) originated in a Chinese government lab ([link removed])
* Justice spending is down 25% since 2010 – not 40% ([link removed])

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