Snopes Daily Debunker - Invasion of the 'Murder Hornets'

Invasion of the 'Murder Hornets' For some of us, the threat of COVID-19 got a little less scary this week thanks to even scarier news that specimens of a venomous insect called the Asian giant hornet (aka “murder hornet”) were recently spotted for the first time in the United States. The sting of these creatures is not only extremely painful but can, in cases of a group attack, be fatal to human beings. Plus, if viral photos circulating on the internet are any indication, the name “giant hornet” is well-earned. One such photo purports to show four of the hornets barely fitting in a person’s open palm. Is it real? Read on to learn more.

Fact Checks Did the CDC Significantly ‘Readjust COVID-19 Death Numbers’? The COVID-19 "death rate" reported by the CDC goes up with the passage of time, and it has not been substantially revised downwards. False Was ‘Proud Boy’ Rob Cantrell Seen Screaming at Cop at Anti-Lockdown Protest? A photograph truly shows a man screaming near an officer during an anti-lockdown protest. Miscaptioned Does This Photo Show a Grocery Store Shopper in a KKK Hood? Santee, California, has been associated with white supremacist activity for years, earning the city the nickname "Klantee." True Is This a Large Flock of Flamingos in a Venice Canal? A massive flamboyance of flamingos was spotted during the COVID-19 pandemic, but this isn't it. False Is Canine Coronavirus Vaccine Proof that COVID-19 Vaccine Should Exist? The misunderstanding seems to stem from the word "coronavirus" and how it pertains to a family of viruses. False Is Kansas City Ordering Churchgoers To Register with the Government? Sensational headlines suggested the city was singling out churches for heavy-handed surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic. False

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In the News Facebook Removes Accounts Linked to QAnon Conspiracy Theory In addition to the QAnon accounts, Facebook also removed accounts linked to VDARE, a U.S. website known for posting anti-immigration content, as well as accounts in Russia, Iran, and more. Read more Trump: COVID-19 Task Force Not Dismantling, Just Refocusing The president tweeted that the task force would focus more on rebooting the economy. Read more 2 Russian Doctors Dead, 1 in ICU After Mysterious Accidents At least three doctors have fallen out of windows in hospitals under mysterious circumstances over the course of the outbreak. Read more Whistleblower: US Failed to Prepare, Sought Quick Virus Fix The Trump administration failed to prepare for the onslaught of the coronavirus, then sought a quick fix by trying to rush an unproven drug to patients, a senior government scientist alleged in a whistleblower complaint. Read more Coronavirus Tests Are Pretty Accurate, But Far from Perfect It’s surprisingly hard to determine how accurate a coronavirus test is, identify the cause of any inaccuracies and understand how inaccuracies affect the data public health officials use to make decisions. Read more

Staff Pick Was a Scientist Jailed After Discovering a Deadly Virus Delivered Through Vaccines? Judy Mikovits did not discover a deadly virus delivered through vaccines; she was arrested for allegedly stealing equipment belonging to the Institute that fired her. Read more

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