Canadian Doctors Speak Out Video Is Misleading
The Claim
A video depicts Canadian doctors who claim you can protect yourself from COVID-19 without getting a vaccine. They discuss alternative treatments, the effectiveness of the PCR test, variants of the virus, and immunity through T cells.
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Emerging story
A video is widely circulating on social media titled ‘Canadian Doctors Speak Out.’ The 12-minute video, published by the Liberty Coalition Canada, features several medical professionals sharing the “top reasons not to be afraid of COVID,” how to prevent and protect yourself against the virus without needing to get the vaccine. Users seemed pleased by the information, calling it “positive,” “interesting,” and “refreshing.”
Some of the claims made in the video include,
- The majority of COVID-19 patients are asymptomatic
- CPR test is worthless, and only 3% with a positive test have COVID-19
- Variants are artificially created and never found in humans; variants get weaker over time and less dangerous.
- Treatments are hydroxychloroquine and vitamin D
- Children do not transfer the virus, and it is more likely for adults to move it to children.
The video has been shared thousands of times on social media and viewed over 230 000 times Rumble, as seen in the screenshot below.
Misbar’s Analysis
The Misbar team selected the most glaring claims to investigate their authenticity.
- The first claim that the majority of COVID-19 patients are asymptomatic is misleading. According to the CDC, “the percentage of asymptomatic infections varies by age groups.
- The CPR test is worthless, and only 3% with positive tests that have COVID-19 is misleading. A study found that PCR effectiveness varies when the test is done after infection, “at its best, one out of five people suspected of COVID-19 will test negative”. However, this is not perfect. It still gives a strong indication of the rates of infection. According to the FDA, The PCR test, also known as a molecular test, is “ typically highly accurate and usually does not need to be repeated.” However, a second test may be necessary if symptoms are present.
- Variants artificially created are not found in humans; variants get weaker over time and less dangerous. Variants are naturally occurring. The CDC has a list of variants of concern (VOC) that it monitors. Although generally, variants get weaker in the long term, they may also mutate in a way that helps them survive and reproduce, such as the British and South African variants.
- The claim that cross-reactive T-cells have made us immune because humans exposed to other Coronaviruses, such as the common cold, was found once again to be misleading. A study found that an examination is done on a tiny scale and is not conclusive. At the same time, other studies found that although cross-reactive antibodies are boosted with a COVID-19 infection to fight it, they do not necessarily offer protection against it. It is, therefore, not a certainty but a future possibility.
- Hydroxychloroquine is an effective treatment that is misleading. A clinical trial by the NIH found that although the drug does not cause harm, early findings showed that it did not improve outcomes in COVID-19 patients. Vitamin D research is still ongoing. However, it is essential to note that high levels of vitamin D can cause toxicity.
- The claim that children do not transfer the virus is also misleading. According to the WHO, “the role of children in the transmission is not yet fully understood.” At the same time, a Harvard publication states that children “even those without symptoms, could readily spread the infection to others.”
Given the investigation, the Misbar team finds the above claims misleading. Although too much fear is counterproductive, it is necessary to be cautious and follow preventative methods such as wearing a mask and socially distancing.
