The Wuhan coronavirus/Covid-19 outbreak is a reminder that bad information can harm lives
28 February 2020 | Facts and news from Full Fact
View in your browser ([link removed])
** FACT CHECK
------------------------------------------------------------
** Good health advice is needed now more than ever
------------------------------------------------------------
** FACT CHECK
------------------------------------------------------------
** Generally, there is only one way to wear a protective facemask ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------
Hundreds of people shared a Facebook post claiming that there are different functions for the two sides of a surgical face mask.
According to the post, if a face mask has a coloured side this should be worn facing out to signify the wearer is sick and doesn’t want to spread their illness, whereas if the white side is facing out it means they’re healthy and don’t want to catch anything.
This is wrong.
According to World Health Organisation advice, the different layers of the mask have specific functions and wearing the mask the wrong way could impede these.
The WHO advises that, if you are healthy, you only need to wear a mask if caring for someone with a suspected infection.
Misleading health advice ([link removed])
** FACT CHECK
------------------------------------------------------------
** No, Iceland has not just declared that all religions are mental disorders ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------
We spotted an article which claimed that Iceland has declared all religions are mental disorders, and that religious faith is “delusional and harmful”.
This is false. The author of the piece on the Patheos website has confirmed it was written as satire, and it is marked as such on the webpage.
But not everyone seems to have realised this, as indicated by comments posted to Facebook, where the article was shared hundreds of times.
Even without knowing that the article was intended as satire, there are other clues that the story is not factual.
It includes a quote from Iceland’s Prime Minister Andrew Kanard. Since November 2017, the Prime Minister of Iceland has been Katrín Jakobsdóttir. There has never been any Icelandic Prime Minister by the name Andrew Kanard.
Satire vs news ([link removed])
** FACT CHECK
------------------------------------------------------------
** You can keep freedom of movement after leaving the EU – as long as you’re in the single market ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------
Asked on Sky News if a future Labour government would reintroduce the free movement of people between the UK and the EU, Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott said: “Once we come out of the single market, freedom of movement falls.”
Presenter Kay Burley responded by saying, “Norway’s not in the single market and yet they have free movement.”
But Ms Abbott was correct on her point. Ms Burley was incorrect to say that Norway is not in the single market. It is their place in the single market that means Norway follows freedom of movement rules – even though they are outside of the EU.
What is the single market? ([link removed])
Good information is more vital than ever. Join our fight.
Amid the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak and weather emergencies, people can rely on news outlets and their political leaders for life-saving advice.
Will you help us continue our work in calling for the very highest standards of accuracy at such a crucial time?
Our community of thousands of supporters ensures our efforts don’t go to waste.
Now, with the stakes so high, can you join them and support accountable, honest reporting today?
I'll become a supporter ([link removed])
I'll give a one off gift of £25 ([link removed])
** FACT CHECK
------------------------------------------------------------
** Also this week... ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------
* MPs cannot claim £50 for breakfast - they're allowed to claim £25 for food bought during the day, provided they stay overnight outside of both London and their constituency ([link removed])
* We read the books that “predicted” the coronavirus so you don't have to ([link removed])
* MPs salaries have grown faster than starting salaries of nurses, teachers and police officers ([link removed])
Catch the latest fact checks ([link removed])
Thank you very much for your support and have a great weekend from the team at Full Fact.
============================================================
** Follow us ([link removed])
** Follow us ([link removed])
** Donate ([link removed])
** Donate ([link removed])
** Like us ([link removed])
** Like us ([link removed])
** Follow us ([link removed])
** Follow us ([link removed])
You can find out how we're funded ** here ([link removed])
.
Copyright © Full Fact 2019 - All rights reserved
Our mailing address is:
2 Carlton Gardens, London, SW1Y 5AA
We use Mailchimp to send you our emails and to see which articles are most popular. ** Read our privacy policy ([link removed])
or ** Mailchimp's privacy policy ([link removed])
** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
** update subscription preferences ([link removed])
