A serious allegation like this demands serious evidence
24 April 2020 | Latest fact checks about coronavirus
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** FACT CHECK
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** A serious allegation like this demands serious evidence
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** Our view on the ‘government-run network of fake Twitter accounts’ claim ([link removed])
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There is no publicly available evidence to support the high-profile social media claim that the Department of Health and Social Care (or a marketing firm linked to them) was running a network of fake Twitter accounts created to post pro-government messages.
The originator of the claim says that he has identified a network of 128 Twitter accounts, largely impersonating NHS staff members, sharing pro-government messages.
At the time of writing, we are only aware of one account that has been publicly identified. That account has since been deleted and there is as yet no public evidence it has any connection to the DHSC.
We asked the individual who made the claim to share his evidence, but he told us that he is not ready to do so at this time.
People who make claims in public debate should be able to back them up, so that everyone is able to judge for themselves. We would urge the author of the posts to share any evidence he has as a matter of urgency, given the gravity of the claims.
As we’ve written before, when trying to judge claims that you see on social media, it’s important to ask what the evidence behind the claim is.
If it is not shown, then it is best to wait for (or ask for) that evidence before sharing the claim.
What we know so far ([link removed])
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** FACT CHECK
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** The government has missed one of its key Covid-19 testing targets ([link removed])
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Health Secretary Matt Hancock claimed on BBC Breakfast that the government has hit “each of the goals we set on testing.”
Labour Leader Keir Starmer claimed on the same programme that the government is missing its Covid-19 testing targets. Mr Starmer is correct.
The government initially set a target for 25,000 tests a day within the four weeks leading up to mid-April. On the 15th of April, the government had not conducted more than 19,116 tests in a day.
The government appeared to revise its target at the start of April, saying it wanted 25,000 tests a day by “mid to late April.” It also seems to have missed that target.
The government will need a significant increase in the number of daily tests to achieve its aim of 100,000 tests a day by the end of the month.
The truth about the testing numbers ([link removed])
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** No, the UK didn’t turn down 50,000 ventilators offered by the EU ([link removed])
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A widely shared claim that the government refused an offer of 50,000 ventilators from the EU is incorrect. The posts seem to refer to a European Commission-funded scheme to stockpile essential medical equipment, including ventilators.
The UK did not join this scheme - but the EU also did not directly offer 50,000 ventilators to the UK.
Whilst ventilators could become cheaper to purchase under the scheme, it doesn’t offer a set number of invasive ventilators to participating countries.
The total budget for the scheme is €80 million, so even if the entire budget was spent on ventilators (around €10,000 each), this would only buy 8,000 invasive ventilators in total - some way off the suggested 50,000.
More about the EU Ventilator Scheme ([link removed])
Episode 2 of our podcast is here! ([link removed])
This week we answered our readers’ questions on fake nurses, UK MPs’ alleged work from home grant, and why a Sunday Times article just isn’t checkable
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** Department for Work and Pensions must publish promised Universal Credit data ([link removed])
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Good information is more essential than ever during the coronavirus outbreak, and in ensuring the public understand the impact it is having on our society. The government has a responsibility to back up what it says with evidence.
We share the UK Statistics Authority’s concerns that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has failed to publish promised breakdowns of data relating to Universal Credit this week, which are of particular importance to the public during this time.
The statistics regulator has called on the department to publish this information, and urged it to be transparent about how often it will do so in future. We support this intervention and hope to see the department take swift action.
The UK Statistics Authority's statement ([link removed])
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** Also this week...
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* UK MPs have NOT awarded themselves a £10,000 “bonus” ([link removed])
* The German government has NOT billed China for “coronavirus damages” ([link removed])
* JustGiving are NOT keeping £2 million commission from donations to Captain Tom Moore ([link removed])
* And yes, the nurses who treated Boris Johnson for coronavirus ARE real nurses ([link removed])
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** Good information is critical right now. Can you help? ([link removed])
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Since its outbreak, we’ve seen false accusations, bad data and confusion about coronavirus and its implications escalate.
If you can, could you help Full Fact tackle bad information about coronavirus today?
As a charity, we rely on the generosity of our 1,400 supporters to help us keep fact checking and holding those in power to account.
But bad information about coronavirus is not slowing down, and we’ve been sent in thousands of claims to check by our readers.
We need more supporters to help maintain the high levels of scrutiny the public deserves. Can you help?
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