Gates Package — page 989

Chapter 5 Find new treatments fast Early on, rumors and misinformation about COVID seemed to be spreading faster than the disease itself. In February 2020, a month before it had declared COVID a pandemic, the WHO was already contending with false claims about various substances that supposedly cured or prevented the disease. Its director-general said, "We're not just fighting an epidemic; we're fighting an infodemic,"1 and its website began featuring a myth-busting section that had to be constantly updated to debunk false claims. In just the first half of 2020 alone, doctors had to shoot down false rumors that COVID could be cured by:2 Black pepper Antibiotics (COVID is caused by a virus, and antibiotics don't affect viruses) Vitamin and mineral supplements Hydroxychloroquine Vodka Sweet wormwood Although none of these substances has any effect on COVID, I can see why people would want to believe otherwise. Some of them are legitimate medical interventions: