MRC NewsBusters

Facebook fact-checks NewsBusters article about Johns Hopkins meta-analysis on the inefficacy of lockdowns for preventing viral illness: Health Feedback placed a fact-check on a NewsBusters article analyzing how Fox News reported on a Johns Hopkins meta-analysis that showed the minimal success of lockdown measures to prevent COVID-19. Fox News correspondent Jonathan Serrie reported that "the authors [of the meta-analysis] have determined various restrictions on movement only reduce Covid mortality by an average of 0.2%. And more restrictive shelter in place orders reduce mortality by only 2.9 percent." Health Feedback recycled a fact check designed for articles written by Fox News and the Daily Mail. The fact-checker disputed not reporting of the meta-analysis by NewsBusters, Fox News or The Daily Mail, but rather the meta-analysis itself. Health Feedback also argued that the paper could not be considered a Johns Hopkins report since the economists who wrote the report did not all work for Johns Hopkins University and the report was not endorsed by the university. The fact-checker, however, neglected to mention that the meta-analysis was published on the Johns Hopkins Krieger School of Arts and Sciences website with the Johns Hopkins logo on the cover page.

Click images to enlarge

Fact Check
Facebook
Fact Check
Facebook
Fact Check
Instagram
Fact Check
Facebook
Fact Check
YouTube
Fact Check
Facebook
Fact Check
Facebook
Fact Check
Facebook
Fact Check
Instagram