Published 12:26 IST, March 26th 2020

Fact Check: Did an Italian TV broadcast predict the COVID-19 outbreak in 2015?

Fact Check: An Italian video from 2015 claims that the coronavirus was cultivated in Chinese laboratories but there is no evidence which proves the same.

Reported by: Amir Khollam
Follow: Google News Icon
  • share
null | Image: self
Advertisement

TGR is Italian state-owned broadcast service which features a number of shows in order to entertain Italian audience. TGR broadcasts short-formed video news on regional news channel programmes in Italy. One of most kwn shows from bunch is TGR Leonardo which reportedly enjoys a great viewership. w, one of videos from TGR Leonardo from vember 16, 2020, has gone viral on social media.

Claim - 

Many people on internet are claiming that video is a proof that ongoing Coronavirus pandemic is a result of testing done by Chinese scientists. 

Rating - 

video does t speak about current COVID-19 pandemic and claim is thus FALSE.

video claims that China created viruses which can affect human body from a protein taken from bats and mice. host could be seen repeatedly citing word 'Coronavirus' which reportedly made video viral on social media as conspiracy ory enthusiasts were quick to start linking video from 2015 to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. But is TGR Leonardo video from vember 16, 2015, actually claiming that ongoing coronavirus pandemic is an outcome of Chinese scientists experimenting with a cultivated virus? 

Advertisement

Also read: Fact Check: Coronavirus vaccine COVID-19 IgM able to cure patient within 3 hours?

TGR Leonardo video from 2015 -

Fact Check - TGR Leonarod 2015 video does t refer to ongoing Coronavirus pandemic

Google Trend analysis of TGR Leonardo -

Netizens have shown a sudden interest in TGR Leonardo coronavirus video. search volumes for same showed a significant urd as video started going viral on social media. Check it out below - 

Advertisement
TGR

Im courtesy - Google Trends

Also read: Dr Ramesh Gupta's Book Jantu Vigyan P 1072 Claims Coronavirus Medicine? Fact Check!

video claimed that Chinese scientists have created a supervirus which attacks respiratory tracks of human beings. TGR Leonardo Coronavirus video also claims that an experiment was carried out in collaboration between Chinese Academy of Sciences and University of rth Carolina. w, virologist of University of Pavia, Fausto Baldanti, has come forward and denied claims made by   TGR Leonardo coronavirus video. 

Advertisement

Also read: Fact Check: Can sanitizer catch fire? Debunking burnt hands photo

Virologist Fausto Baldanti has come forward and shared it with a leading news daily in Italy that a natural virus and a cultivated virus are distinguishable. virologist revealed furrmore that though 2015 experiment was indeed carried out, it was t of same geme as of current COVID-19 strain. experiment was carried out in order to understand if a virus can mutate naturally in future and cause a pandemic like recent COVID-19 outbreak, as per virologist Fausto Baldanti. Thus, TGR Leonardo coronavirus did t refer to or predict ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. 

Advertisement

Also read: Fact Check: Is video of Italian military trucks carrying dead bodies real or fake?

Also read: Fact check: Can clapping kill coronavirus? Fake news about display of gratitude busted

Advertisement

12:26 IST, March 26th 2020