Does 5G cause COVID-19?

As the novel coronavirus continues to spread at a rapid pace across the globe, so too has misinformation surrounding the virus and its associated disease, COVID-19. One prominent theory making the rounds, particularly on social media, is that 5G communications equipment is linked to the cause of the virus.

This theory, which appears to have surfaced in January and has been widely debunked by experts, says that the technology impacts and weakens immune systems, making people more susceptible to the virus. A Facebook post that was very widely shared stated that the city of Wuhan in China, which was the first epicenter of the outbreak, was one of the first places to receive a 5G rollout.

Despite the fact that many experts and fact-checking organizations have thoroughly debunked this theory, people continue to share the information across social media. Some celebrities, even, have shared posts or links to sources supporting the theory. And some people have even attempted to take matters into their own hands: UK officials reported on Monday that at least 20 5G towers had been vandalized or set on fire due to what they believe to be coronavirus fears.

UK government officials will be meeting with social media companies in the coming days to discuss what can be done to stem the tide of COVID-19 misinformation on these platforms.