The Latest Fact Checks from the International Fact Checking Network (IFCN) 04/15/2020

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 by Donald Trump: “It is the decision of the President,” not governors, to “open up the states.” Politifact rating: False Trump’s false claim that it’s up to him — not governors — to open states
	Claim by Bill Bennett: Does the average American have less than two-tenths of one percent chance of getting coronavirus and, even if so, would that mean that U.S. public health officials were wrong to mandate the precautionary measures they have instituted? Lead Stories rating: False Fact Check: Officials NOT Wrong To Impose Safety Measures, And COVID-19 IS A Pandemic
	Claim by ABC News: “The Great Barrier Reef is experiencing the most widespread bleaching ever recorded” Climate Feedback rating: Accurate Scientists observe most widespread bleaching event ever recorded at The Great Barrier Reef
	Claim by Candace Owens: Apparently, doctors and nurses around the world are wondering why no one is dying from heart attacks and strokes anymore. Flu and pneumonia deaths also went off a cliff. Turns out everyone is only dying of Coronavirus now.  Politifact rating: False COVID-19 skeptics say there’s an overcount. Doctors in the field say the opposite
	Claim by The Republic Post: Did Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ban the sale of American flags amid the COVID-19 pandemic? Lead Stories rating: False Fact Check: Michigan Gov Did NOT Ban Sale Of American Flags During Coronavirus Outbreak
	(International) Claim: A video of hundreds of people crossing a border has been viewed tens of thousands of times on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim it shows people from Afghanistan entering Pakistan without being tested for the novel coronavirus. AFP Fact Check (Afghanistan) rating: False This video shows Afghan nationals leaving Pakistan during a temporary opening of the border

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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