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. 2021 Jul 12:1–6. doi: 10.1017/dmp.2021.220

Table 1.

Rumor, stigma, and conspiracy theories related to COVID-19 around the world 2020

Rumors
  1. “Novel coronavirus is in the cloud”

  2. “Coronavirus is a snake flu”

  3. “Pet animals are the sources of coronavirus”

  4. “Novel coronavirus strain is a type of rabies”

  5. “Coronavirus outbreak in the livestock”

  6. “Poultry eggs are contaminated with coronavirus”

  7. “Cookies, rice, and Chinese red bull were contaminated with the virus”

  8. “Eating bat soup is the source of the (COVID-19) outbreak”

  9. “COVID-19 found in oranges”

  10. “Coronavirus from imported goods” “

  11. Mobile phone can transmit coronavirus”

  12. “Notes [currency] are sources of coronavirus”

  13. “Common cold had been renamed as coronavirus”

Rumor[s] about treatment, prevention, and control
  1. “Eating garlic can cure coronavirus”

  2. “Drinking bleach may kill the virus”

  3. “Drinking alcohol may kill the virus”

  4. “Gargling vinegar and rose water or vinegar and salt may kill the virus in [the] throat”

  5. “Drinking cow urine and cow dung can cure coronavirus”

  6. “[Colloidal]Silver solution for coronavirus treatment”

  7. “Wearing warm socks, mustard patches, and spreading goose fat on one’s chest as treatment”

  8. “Keeping throat moist, avoid spicy food and taking vitamin C may prevent the disease”

  9. “Avoiding cold or preserved food and drinks, such as ice cream and milkshakes may prevent infection”

  10. “Spraying chlorine all over your body can prevent coronavirus infection”

  11. “Sesame oil can prevent coronavirus infection”

  12. “Granite bath can prevent coronavirus infection”

  13. “Sea lettuce can prevent coronavirus infection”

  14. “Vitamin C intake can prevent coronavirus infection”

  15. “Vitamin D can prevent coronavirus infection”

  16. “Eating Centella asiatica may prevent coronavirus infection”

  17. “Drinks containing mint or white willow, and spices like saffron, turmeric, and cinnamon would strengthen the lungs and the immune system against the virus”

  18. “Rinse mouths with salt water solution to prevent infection from the new virus outbreak”

  19. “Do not hold your thirst because once your membrane in your throat is dried, the virus will invade into your body within 10 minutes”

  20. “Applying petroleum jelly around your nostrils will protect against dangerous air pollutants”

  21. “Do-it-yourself coronavirus detection test”

  22. “Cannabis boosts immunity against the novel coronavirus”

  23. “Frequent washing clothes can reduce transmission”

Conspiracy theory[ies]
  1. “Novel coronavirus is engineered, laboratory-generated virus either accidentally or deliberately released in the area of the Wuhan seafood and animal market”

  2. “COVID-2019 outbreak was planned”

  3. “It’s a bio-weapon funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation to further vaccine sales”

  4. “Biological weapon manufactured by CIA”

  5. “President Donald Trump targeted the city with coronavirus to damage its culture and honor in Iran”

  6. “The virus is an attempt to wage ‘economic war on China’” “America’s Jews are driving America’s wars”

  7. “This outbreak is medical terrorism”

  8. “Zionists are against regional security”

  9. “United States and Israel of being behind the creation and spread of the deadly coronaviruses, [which are] part of an economic and psychological war against China

  10. “This outbreak is a population control scheme”

  11. “Tom Cotton claimed that COVID-19 was manufactured in [a] Chinese bio-laboratory”

  12. “Rush Limbaugh opining that whole COVID-19 is a conspiracy against Trump to let him down in election. He purported it as a worse flu”

  13. “New coronavirus vaccines already exist”

  14. “Pneumonia vaccines are effective against the Wuhan coronavirus”

  15. “Israel has sent a vaccine to Wuhan city for patients infected with coronavirus”

Stigma
  1. “I am not a virus: French Asians angered by racism”

  2. “Chinese are uncivilized”

  3. “Chinese are bioterrorists”

  4. “A French newspaper with headline ‘Yellow Alert’ tagged an Asian woman image wearing mask”

  5. “Chinese are dropping their coronavirus” “Every disease [ever] has come from China” “Keep your virus, dirty Chinese” “Chinese dietary habit[s] caused COVID-19”