The Latest Fact Checks from the International Fact Checking Network (IFCN) 03/31/2020

The code of principles of the International Fact-Checking Network IFCN at Poynter is a series of commitments organizations abide by to promote excellence in fact-checking. The following fact checks come from IFCN fact checkers. (D. Van Zandt)

	Claim via Social Media: Is Bill Gates behind widespread COVID-19 testing, and does he have ownership in the World Health Organization? Lead Stories rating: False Fact Check: Bill Gates Does NOT Have Access To Your DNA And Does NOT Have Ownership In WHO
	Claim by Donald Trump: “I wish they [China] told us three months sooner that this [the coronavirus] was a problem. We didn’t know about it. They knew about it and they should have told us.” FactCheck.org rating: Exaggerates Correcting Trump’s Press Conference Misinformation
	Claim via Social Media: A post shared on Facebook claims President Donald Trump owns shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific, one of the companies manufacturing equipment for COVID-19 testing. Check Your Fact rating: False FACT CHECK: IS DONALD TRUMP A STOCKHOLDER IN THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC?
	Claim by Turning Point USA: Says Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak “has banned the use of an anti-malaria drug that might help cure coronavirus.” Politifact rating: Mostly False Conservative group’s meme distorts Nevada’s chloroquine restrictions
	Claim via Social Media: A post shared on Facebook claims House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has announced she will halt Social Security payments for two months starting in April. Check Your Fact rating: False FACT CHECK: DID NANCY PELOSI ANNOUNCE A 2-MONTH SUSPENSION OF SOCIAL SECURITY STARTING IN APRIL?

International Fact Checks

	Claim by Multiple sources: Livestream shows looting in Mexico caused by coronavirus panic   AFP Fact Check rating: False   This footage of looting was filmed years before the pandemic
	Claim by Social Media pages: Image of fully stocked shelf is from 2009 during the Swine Flu epidemic, while panic buying during novel Coronavirus outbreak leaves shelves empty.   Boom rating: Misleading Recent Image Shared As Being From 2009’s Swine Flu Outbreak
	Claim by Social Media users: Rail freight tanker is stamped with COVID-19.   Boom rating: False   False: Rail Tanker Stamped With ‘COVID-19’

Disclaimer: We are providing links to fact checks by the IFCN. If you do not agree with a fact check, please directly contact the source of that fact check.

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