Social media users have shared posts online claiming that COVID-19 is not a contagious disease and could rather be caused by radiation poisoning. This assertion is false; COVID-19 is contagious and is not caused by radiation poisoning.
An example can be seen here. The report reads: “Note. Every model currently points out that Covid-19 is not a contagious disease, EXCEPT the model of Pharma, big-tech and the prevailing class. I know, I know, I’m a crazy conspiracy theorist. I heard it all weekend. Okay, whatever. Just look for the pleasure of the symptoms of radiation pneumonitis. ”
The report then explains that COVID-19 can result from poisoning by radiation and that masks, barriers and injections are not effective against the virus.
COVID-19 IS CONTAGIOUS
COVID-19 can be spread very easily, mainly through close contact between people, says the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (here). According to the CDC, the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19 disease, spreads more effectively than the flu virus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) explains here on its website that evidence suggests that the virus spreads primarily through respiratory droplets between people in close contact. The virus can also be contracted by touching an infected surface and then touching the eyes, nose or mouth.
The Spanish newspaper El Pais published here a visualization of how the virus can spread in a room, a bar and a classroom with and without masks and ventilation.
A Forbes article here shows a visualization created by a Japanese supercomputer showing the distribution in a restaurant. The visuals can be seen here.
Harvard Health explains on its website here that an infected person can be contagious 48 hours before they start experiencing symptoms, and those without symptoms can also spread the virus to others.
COVID-19 is not caused by radiation poisoning
Reuters Fact Check earlier dismissed the allegation that COVID-19 is caused by radiation poisoning. The symptoms of diseases like radiation pneumonitis and COVID-19 are similar but they are completely different things.
The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection has also addressed claims that radiation from electromagnetic fields (EMVs) is the cause of disease rather than the coronavirus – specifically with respect to 5G networks. It is said that these allegations are not ‘feasible’ nor are they ‘supported by any evidence (not even extremely weak evidence)’ (here).
FACE MASKS, SLUTS AND SINGLES ARE NOT INFECTIVE
Reuters Fact Check also dismissed the claim that face masks and obstructions do not slow down the spread of the virus. There is evidence showing that both face masks and social distance work well in combination with other prevention methods, such as regular hand washing to slow the spread of the virus.
The three COVID-19 vaccines that have emergency authorization for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson (here).
Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine was approximately 95% effective in preventing late-stage disease symptoms, while Moderna’s vaccine was approximately 94% effective (here). In J & J’s worldwide trial of 44,000 people, the vaccine was found to be 66% effective in preventing moderate to severe COVID-19 four weeks after vaccination. It was 100% effective in preventing hospitalization and death due to the virus (here).
The World Health Organization estimates ‘herd immunity’ – the share of the population that must be immune to break the distribution chain – at around 60% to 70%. Anthony Fauci, the leading infectious disease specialist in the United States, said he thinks the threshold is 75% or higher (here).
A Reuters simulation showing the relationship between how many doses of vaccine are administered and herd immunity can be found here.
VERDICT
Untrue. COVID-19 is a contagious disease and is not caused by radiation poisoning.
This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our fact-checking work here.