FACT CHECK

Flu isn’t killing more people than coronavirus

Last week, the erroneous claim that influenza, or in some cases “influenza and pneumonia” is now causing more deaths than Covid-19 was repeated by several national newspapers, magazines and broadcasters.

This is a misunderstanding of figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which show the number of deaths where influenza, pneumonia or Covid-19 are mentioned on the death certificate—not those where they were listed as the underlying cause of death. 

It’s misleading to say that these are cases where people necessarily died “of” the disease, or were “killed by” it.

Although we don’t have detailed data on recent deaths, there are almost certainly fewer deaths where flu is identified as the underlying cause compared to Covid-19. With pneumonia included, the total number of people dying of pneumonia or flu is probably higher than the number dying of the new coronavirus at the moment, but not by the margin that suggested in some headlines.

FACT CHECK

Infrared thermometers will not harm the pineal gland in your brain

A Facebook post shared hundreds of times has claimed that infrared temperature guns can damage the pineal gland in the brain.

These devices have become a common sight during the coronavirus pandemic, with a number of businesses using them to screen customers who may have a fever.

But it is incorrect to say that these devices can do any damage to your brain.

Infrared is a form of radiation that is invisible to the naked eye but can be sensed by humans as warmth or heat. 

Non-contact infrared thermometers work by measuring the infrared radiation given off by an object or person and converting this into a temperature. 

As these devices measure infrared rather than emitting it, the person whose temperature is being taken isn’t subject to any extra infrared radiation. The red light seen on these devices is just that: a beam of light to help the user aim it correctly.