Photo of busy mosque was taken before lockdown

ASK FULL FACT

We've answered your questions about coronavirus

A few weeks ago, we asked you to send in your questions about the new coronavirus, to help sort the good information from the bad. 

ASK FULL FACT: ANSWERED

Catching coronavirus twice is very rare

A number of readers asked us whether it was possible to contract the new coronavirus more than once. The evidence so far shows that catching the disease twice is very rare. Infected people seem to recover and develop immunity against it. It’s not clear how long such immunity would last.

Professor Jimmy Whitworth from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine says the few isolated examples where re-infection has been reported could be down to a “technical issue” rather than a real repeat infection.

The Chief Scientific Advisor, Sir Patrick Vallance says there are rare cases of re-infection “in any infectious disease” but there is nothing to suggest it is a “common occurrence” in Covid-19.

A report from the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention on 25 March says, “there is emerging evidence from early studies suggesting that individuals develop antibodies after infection and are likely to be immune from reinfection in the short term.”

FACT CHECK

Theories discussed in the Daily Star linking 5G to coronavirus are not backed up by evidence

The Daily Star has reported on “a new conspiracy theory” surrounding the new coronavirus: that 5G networks could be responsible for the rapid spread of the virus. There is no evidence that 5G is harmful to health.

The article refers to two theories to support the claim that 5G accelerates the new coronavirus. Firstly that 5G might suppress the immune system and, secondly, that viruses can communicate through radio waves. Neither of these theories are backed up by evidence.

The new coronavirus is also affecting countries and regions where no 5G is present. The Daily Star has since amended the article. It now includes a statement by the UK government to say there is "no convincing evidence that 5G is dangerous".

FACT CHECK

Also this week...

• Facebook posts suggesting lockdown will soon be lifted are pranks
• There is no plan to combat the new coronavirus with helicopters spraying disinfectant
• And The Great Pyramid's map coordinates are not as meaningful as a Facebook post makes out

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