This March 13 marks six years since the Council of Ministers, presided over by Pedro Sánchez, announced the declaration of the state of alarm, thus initiating the lockdown that lasted approximately between 98 and 100 days, with total mobility restrictions, until the so-called “new normality”. On this day 2,000 cases and 47 deaths were reported.
During the months of January and February, was communicated the first imported case, asymptomatic and mild; the first confirmed death; the first local contagion in Seville and the state of alarm and general confinement.
This time also marked the era of fake news: the pandemic of hoaxes. Not having all the information unleashed people's conspiratorial and speculative theories.
MMS cures COVID in 24 hours
One of the most dangerous hoaxes was promoted by a Catalan farmer and activist, known for promoting alternative and pseudoscientific therapies, Josep Pamiès. The Catalan promoted chlorine dioxide (MMS) -industrial bleach- as a "miracle treatment" against the coronavirus. It went viral on WhatsApp with false testimonies and homemade videos.
It was denied by the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS) and by the World Health Organization (WHO), who assured that it is a toxic substance, without proven efficacy and caused serious intoxications.
5G causes or spreads the coronavirus
Manipulated videos of attacks on antennas in the United Kingdom adapted to Spain circulated, alleging that 5G waves "activate" the virus or create it. It was the most repeated hoax by denialists.
Nevertheless, telecommunications experts and the WHO clarified that 5G is only non-ionizing radiofrequency, without biological impact on viruses.
Bill Gates puts microchips with the vaccines
At the moment when the first vaccines began to be supplied, there were those who claimed that Microsoft's, implanted nanobots via COVID vaccines to track populations. The hoax was born from taking a 2015 TED Talk by Gates out of context.
It got millions of shares on social media and Fact-checkers like 'Maldita.es' confirmed: Gates spoke of "digital certificates" to accredit tests, recovery, or COVID vaccination, without mentioning chips.
The COVID vaccines alter human DNA
The anti-vaxxers claimed that Pfizer/Moderna's mRNA -the base technology of the vaccines- rewrote DNA. In turn, they claimed it contained graphene for mind control. The worst part of this fake new is that it was born in 2021 from a “report” from the University of Almería, commissioned by denialists.
It went viral on Telegram and Facebook. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and various virologists debunked them, explaining that mRNA does not enter the cell nucleus, it degrades in hours and only instructs proteins. Likewise, billions of doses confirm their safety without genetic alterations.
