True: Corey's Digs is spreading misinformation about COVID-19.

By: Ganashree N A
January 17 2022

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Corey's Digs is a website created by Corey Lynn, someone who thinks that COVID-19 is a hoax. The website claims to use investigative reports and a library of resources to discover the “truth." We reviewed a couple of claims related to COVID-19 presented by Corey’s Digs. First, we looked at the claim Corey’s Digs makes about COVID-19 death tolls. Corey’s Digs alleges that the number of deaths has been overstated. However, there is no evidence that COVID-19 deaths are being overstated. The site points out the discrepancy between the Covid Tracking Project (which shows that nearly 256,000 people have died as of November 27) and Johns Hopkins (which shows that nearly 266,000 people have died as of November 27). It is correct that the numbers don't match, but the discrepancies in death tolls can exist for many reasons. A variety of datasets have sprung up to help track the virus. Each source generally pulls data from the same government agencies but at different times, leading to variation in daily totals. Individual data points can vary depending on the update schedule and geographic definitions. There is no fixed rule on how to tally the number of COVID-19 infections or deaths. Secondly, we looked at the anti-mask narrative spread by Corey’s Digs. Corey’s Digs alleges that masks are ineffective, as people have still been dying. However, in its latest guidance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has noted that no single strategy can control the pandemic and requires a multipronged approach of evidence-based strategies to fight the virus and break transmission chains. It will require the public to follow many precautions, and one of the recommendations is the universal use of face masks. Thirdly, the website claims that COVID-19 only impacts a small percentage of the population: "mom and dad, grandma and grandpa, and those with compromised immune systems". This is incorrect. COVID-19 can impact (and has impacted) a large percentage of the population. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19, including symptoms, prevention, and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organization or your national healthcare authority.