![Trust Index: A trending meme is inaccurate, but COVID-19 is killing an historic number of people](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/UyJhnjHrPiLaEacKHIw4F8GFFq0=/1600x1004/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/YIBCPE3A2RHJBPMLT2YG7SPHYA.jpg)
Trust Index: A trending meme is inaccurate, but COVID-19 is killing an historic number of people
Daily COVID-19 deaths in December are listed on a trending social media graphic showing the 10 deadliest days in U.S. history. RELATED: The chilling story behind the โDeadliest Days in American historyโ meme (CNET)RELATED: Did 4 of the deadliest days in U.S. history occur in December 2020? (Snopes)Recent daily COVID-19 death totals are among the worst in U.S. history, but the graphic leaves out other terrible days, including the entire Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918. 1, though we couldnโt find daily death totals. The meme shows daily COVID-19 fatalities for several days in early December rival these historic tragedies.
![Wisconsin has not counted more votes than there are registered voters](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/dUtQpsIPzkmUwbPC1e2crbimur8=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/5U6OW3FU6NFI3DGJEQCGFBDEYM.jpg)
Wisconsin has not counted more votes than there are registered voters
CLAIM: Wisconsin has โ3,129,000 registered voters,โ but counted 3,239,920 votes. According to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, the state had 3,684,726 active registered voters as of Nov. 1. THE FACTS: On Wednesday, as states were continuing to count votes in the U.S. presidential election, multiple false posts circulated on social media claiming that Wisconsin had more votes counted than people registered to vote. Another Twitter user wrote: โRegistered voters in Wisconsin: 3,129,000. The United States Census Bureau reported that there were 3,129,000 registered voters during the 2018 midterms.
![5 tips for navigating the post-Election Day vote count](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/b9vsy8I17eUPCTm2fVvLMgZnJzc=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/KRSZFFZWDJCO5BDZZFB24N6M7E.jpg)
5 tips for navigating the post-Election Day vote count
Here are five tips for navigating what could be a deeply confusing and anxious period:Even after states declare, keep in mind that the race isnโt over. You can share any election-related posts youโre seeing with the Trust Index fact-checking team and weโll get to work on it. Use the Trust Index form to send it to trained fact-checkers for review and possible debunking on a newscast or online. They also helped created Trust Index, our fact-checking team. The Trust Index team fact checks questionable information circulating on social media and in our communities.
![5 ways you can help fight misinformation on Election Day](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/guXq2Pdx8OVGLu7qTSvRuncuTkQ=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/LYWFKOYZIVEAZF3PIJTOUKXE24.jpg)
5 ways you can help fight misinformation on Election Day
As Election Day finally arrives it is going to be easy to feel overwhelmed by the volume of information being aimed at every single voter in the country. As polls open here are five things to watch for on Election Day 2020:Many, many reports, photos, and videos of long lines. You can also share what you are seeing with the Trust Index team and weโll get to work on it. Use the Trust Index form to send it to trained fact-checkers for review and possible debunking on a newscast or online. The Trust Index team fact checks questionable information circulating on social media and in our communities.
![Viral tale of Black Lives Matter activists attacking Roanoke diners is fake news](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/X4IJ_0unnycNDRYqMWisalDS8qo=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/09-17-2020/t_8e3d278ac5ea4359bd6e47f08d2e5507_name_image.jpg)
Viral tale of Black Lives Matter activists attacking Roanoke diners is fake news
Leo Hohmannโs self-published story claimed that people eating outside at 202 Social House were attacked by Black Lives Matter activists on Aug. 28. โWhen I first saw the article, I was kind of shocked," said 202 Social House owner Neal Keesee. A Facebook post from the Culpeper County Sheriff's Office shared an article describing a Roanoke incident that likely did not happen. (Facebook)The Roanoke Police Department said it reached out to the Culpeper County Sheriffโs Office after Jenkins shared the article. 10 News asked the Culpeper County Sheriffโs Office why they reposted the article, but no one responded to the question.
![AP Fact Check: Trump distorts record; Black Lives Matter falsely accused](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Io9imdTqUUoeR2eKlCKmmOlTcyg=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/R44BRZDSGJCMVAL372WTL67WAE.jpg)
AP Fact Check: Trump distorts record; Black Lives Matter falsely accused
WASHINGTON (AP) โ President Donald Trump claimed accomplishments he didnโt earn on the pandemic, energy and veterans at a Republican convention finale that also heard Black Lives Matter baselessly accused of coordinating violent protests across the country. His shutdown would inflict unthinkable and lasting harm on our nationโs children, families, and citizens of all backgrounds.โTHE FACTS: Thatโs false. You havenโt seen that in a long time.โTHE FACTS: Trump seems to be taking credit for lower prices that were the byproduct of a pandemic that has killed more than 180,000 Americans. Thereโs no evidence that Black Lives Matter or antifa, or any political group for that matter, is infiltrating racial injustice protests with violence. Cotton also played into the conventionโs pattern of attributing every questionable action of President Barack Obamaโs administration to Biden personally.
![AP FACT CHECK: Kamala Harris meets constitutional requirements to serve as VP](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/eP6A1PJ35E33uAgI0KHdB8v40y0=/1600x899/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/CPTTFJ5TSRAM5PCXQIJS2P2VFY.jpg)
AP FACT CHECK: Kamala Harris meets constitutional requirements to serve as VP
CHICAGO (AP) โ False claims that Kamala Harris is not legally eligible to serve as U.S. vice president or president have been circulating in social media posts since 2019, when she first launched her Democratic primary campaign. ... Itโs not something that we will be pursuing.โ Asked point blank if Harris is eligible, Trump replied: โI just told you. I have not got into it in great detail.โA look at the claim:THE CLAIM: Harris is ineligible to serve as vice president or president because her mother is from India and her father is from Jamaica. Trump said Thursday that he โheardโ the California senator doesnโt meet the requirements, adding, โI have no if idea thatโs right.โTHE FACTS: Thatโs false. Harris was born on Oct. 20, 1964, in Oakland, California, according to a copy of her birth certificate, obtained by The Associated Press.
![DNC mentions end of poverty with $15 minimum wage: AP fact check examines whether thatโs true](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/E27sotsoWlrUkfcUxMSX1xc60J0=/1600x1068/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/WHRLVVVMVJD7TIZAJQSWTTKJDE.jpg)
DNC mentions end of poverty with $15 minimum wage: AP fact check examines whether thatโs true
WASHINGTON (AP) โ Americans tuned into the Democratic National Convention were told Thursday that the higher minimum wage favored by presidential candidate Joe Biden would lift all full-time workers out of poverty. SEN. CORY BOOKER: โTogether, with Joe and Kamala in the White House, weโll raise the minimum wage so no one who works a full-time job lives in poverty.โTHE FACTS: Thatโs an improbable outcome for the $15 minimum wage supported by Biden. Moreover, the report estimated a $15 minimum wage would cost 1.3 million people their jobs because they would be priced out of the market. That finding suggests that a $15 federal minimum would not take all full-time workers out of poverty. Trust IndexThe Trust Index team fact checks questionable information circulating on social media and in our communities.
![AP FACT CHECK: Trump muddies facts on mail ballots, Harris](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/WVuxQkYWcnpT95Ha53GiZ-iza4A=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/NRQRKLHYBFD6RBSXOY5EQ7O2MI.jpg)
AP FACT CHECK: Trump muddies facts on mail ballots, Harris
WASHINGTON (AP) โ President Donald Trump is muddying the facts about mail-in voting and vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Mail-in ballots are cast in the same way as absentee mail ballots, with the same level of scrutiny such as signature verification in many states. That means they can use mail-in ballots for any reason, regardless of whether a person is out of town or working. Five of those states relied on mail-in ballots even before the coronavirus pandemic raised concerns about voting in person. THE FACTS: Harris, a senator from California, is without question eligible.
![AP FACT CHECK: Michelle Obama and the kids in โcagesโ -- whatโs true?](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/iT5efk2GheNFlADPP2Ly5pu9hN8=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/MPJPK74DGFAG3I4WDV5OFDRGO4.jpg)
AP FACT CHECK: Michelle Obama and the kids in โcagesโ -- whatโs true?
WASHINGTON (AP) โ Michelle Obama assailed President Donald Trump on Monday for ripping migrant children from their parents and throwing them into cages, picking up on a frequent and distorted point made widely by Democrats. Sheโs right that Trumpโs now-suspended policy at the U.S.-Mexico border separated thousands of children from their families in ways that had not been done before. At the height of the controversy over Trumpโs zero-tolerance policy at the border, photos that circulated online of children in the enclosures generated great anger. But prominent Democrats have continued to cite cages for children as a distinctive cruelty of Trump. The Obama administration separated migrant children from families under certain limited circumstances, like when the childโs safety appeared at risk or when the parent had a serious criminal history.
![Galaxโs 32 newly-reported coronavirus cases are not as they seem](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/wMR_lV3L63OqhnWf-2eR-a25It0=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/TGSNOM2ZORDOTBZ5BQI36IJ5GA.png)
Galaxโs 32 newly-reported coronavirus cases are not as they seem
Presumably, she said there are only two active cases in the city, but VDH does not release active/recovery data on COVID-19. The 32 cases added into Galaxโs coronavirus count are backlogged cases from an outside lab that does not report directly to VDH, said Forbes Hubbard. VHD acknowledged earlier this week that there could be backlog data reported in the numbers this week. This development is due to some labs beginning to report results electronically as opposed to by fax. These were backlogged cases from an outside lab that does not report directly to VDH, and are cases that occurred earlier in the summer.
![What are antibodies? Why is developing antibody testing for COVID-19 so complicated?](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/WnERPjNUeMKJDnEkn4prlscUeqE=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/08-10-2020/t_0ed1c64a55c543449755bc4a19f5808f_name_image.jpg)
What are antibodies? Why is developing antibody testing for COVID-19 so complicated?
There has been an emphasis put on developing widespread coronavirus (COVID-19) antibody testing as we move forward through the pandemic. Our Dr. Frank McGeorge explains exactly what antibodies are and why developing a test for them is so complicated. Eventually, after a few days of infection, those antibody making cells are ready and start cranking out antibodies. Antibodies are Y-shaped and have special arms that grab onto the different shapes of proteins on the surface of a virus. The cells that made those antibodies also keep a record, so they can make antibodies faster the next time around.
![Its life-changing: Woman shares battle with severe COVID-19 symptoms for more than 130 days](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/q_-Da-CkeSmQ-qrAfAnmsZd5ChI=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/08-11-2020/t_9d16b6b2a2cc405191cb1c11c95143a8_name_image.jpg)
Its life-changing: Woman shares battle with severe COVID-19 symptoms for more than 130 days
A Michigan woman who was healthy before contracting the coronavirus (COVID-19) said shes been battling symptoms -- including seizures and hallucinations -- for more than 130 days. I was healthy, Nelson said. I was completely fine.The week prior, she had lost her sense of smell and taste, but back then, those werent recognized as official COVID-19 symptoms. Its going on four months now.Nelson said she has meticulously documented her symptoms for months. You just dont know if youre going to be unlucky.Her advice to others is to follow COVID-19 safety guidelines.
![Can wearing contacts increase your chances of catching COVID-19?](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/m-xT60btHfN6bphYJKY9eyvW5yw=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/08-10-2020/t_d93216ab82034d14a5653267b5cbbf7e_name_image.jpg)
Can wearing contacts increase your chances of catching COVID-19?
Can wearing contacts increase your chances of catching COVID-19? Experts believe wearing contact could increase your risk of exposure to coronavirus. Many people who wear contact lenses find themselves touching their eyes to adjust the lenses, said Dr. George Williams, the chair of Ophthalmology at Beaumont Royal Oak. If you do need to wear your contact lenses, use extra caution. That means washing your hands for the recommended 20 seconds or more before and after touching your lenses.
![Can you catch COVID-19 more than once? Health official says yes](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/TlGb2z2_mTxXFb06OVwOht7fV-A=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/07-28-2020/t_4cbc83f77d9848a2ae8ca3f6fff25549_name_image.jpg)
Can you catch COVID-19 more than once? Health official says yes
ROANOKE, Va. โ Local health officials say you can catch COVID-19 more than once. Dr. Molly OโDell, the director of communicable disease control for the Virginia Department of Healthโs Roanoke City- Alleghany Health Districts, said that two individuals in the region have already tested positive twice each. OโDell said those two people both tested positive after showing symptoms, recovered, and then, more than three months later, tested positive again. However, health experts still donโt know how those individuals got re-infected and itโs unclear if people develop an immunity to COVID-19 or how long it could protect someone. In the two districts, the number of positive COVID-19 cases are going.
![Introducing Trust Index: Our commitment to fighting misinformation with journalism, facts](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/yGD6g0XIGr_628oLyWloBXPHIoY=/778x485/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/DE2M2C2TYRCYZCVYDOZAVVDBUM.png)
Introducing Trust Index: Our commitment to fighting misinformation with journalism, facts
Trust Index is Graham Media Groupโs initiative to combat misinformation and provide viewers and readers fact-checked information to share with others. All sources are disclosed in a Trust Index story on our website. Each Trust Index story receives one of three labels:Trust Index badges include: "It's True," "Be Careful," and "Not True." The designated label is assigned after a claim of information is reviewed through the Trust Index process established in our newsrooms. You can email the Trust Index team at: trustindex@grahammedia.com.
![Roanoke tops a NYTimes list for coronavirus deaths, but local health leaders say the data isnt accurate](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/vB-ACJjZw4n1NmLQ2657EDNZNR4=/1280x720/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/QLPG76PWB5HSPMR7K2FUISYOIA.png)
Roanoke tops a NYTimes list for coronavirus deaths, but local health leaders say the data isnt accurate
ROANOKE, Va. Local health leaders say theyre concerned with the New York Times reporting on COVID-19 cases in Roanoke. She and Dr. Thomas Kerkering with Virginia Tech Carilion sent a letter to the New York Times asking them to correct the mistake. ODell said the Times mistook regional data for local data and then made another error. A New York Times spokesperson responded to a 10 News request for comment. As it is currently structured, The New York Times database counts cases when they are first reported, not necessarily when they occurred.
![How long should you wait to exercise after a coronavirus diagnosis?](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/TP4h5rR8FRjiNvag2Bowbji5O2s=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/05-16-2020/t_b217a85e4c504bb39487a23b77885604_name_image.jpg)
How long should you wait to exercise after a coronavirus diagnosis?
DETROIT Weve heard about many athletes and highly active people whove tested positive for coronavirus. WDIVs Dr. Frank McGeorge has new recommendations for people looking to return to playing sports after having the coronavirus. The guidelines for returning to play for competitive athletes and highly active people after a coronavirus diagnosis relies on the degree of symptoms a person had during their infection. For hospitalized people with normal heart blood tests they should rest without exercise until symptoms resolve -- then have a medical evaluation after an additional two weeks of recovery without exercise. Finally, people who test positive but have no symptoms are encouraged to rest for two weeks without exercise from the positive test date.
![NOT TRUE: VP Pence accused of staging PPE delivery for publicity](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/co3OSNfVfjV0sdm4zAuYqMOxXXs=/1445x813/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-gmg.s3.amazonaws.com/public/TFAJ4BK2ZNFFVJSYMLSUMNJ33Q.jpg)
NOT TRUE: VP Pence accused of staging PPE delivery for publicity
The edited video didnโt accurately represent what happened, and put simply, wasnโt true. The unverified claim that Pence delivered empty boxes of PPE โjust for the camera" went viral on social media. [See a questionable claim on social media? The full C-SPAN video shows Pence delivering boxes of the equipment and then returning to a van containing more boxes. Mike Pence caught on hot mic delivering empty boxes of PPE for a PR stunt.
![No, Gov. Northam has not left Virginia to go to his N.C. beach house during the stay-at-home order](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/cTNVxzb00G8Zw4_B8DX3KWXGERg=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/04-23-2020/t_8badad81cac64b17994230bcaa536f95_name_image.jpg)
No, Gov. Northam has not left Virginia to go to his N.C. beach house during the stay-at-home order
Ralph Northam has not left the state of Virginia since issuing the executive order requiring Virginians to stay at home, according to his spokesperson. A Facebook post states that numerous people in Dare County, North Carolina, had seen or heard about Northam going to his vacation home on a regular basis. Northam has been working on behalf of Virginians seven days a week and has not left the Commonwealth since stay-home orders went into place. An update from last night regarding Governor Northam being sighted in NC and todayโs General Assembly session. Posted by Senator Amanda Chase on Wednesday, April 22, 2020โOur initial report is that this is a false claimโฆ that this is not true,โ said Senator Chase.
![Alcohol not linked to an increased COVID-19 risk](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/DD0xRgTCSMbYCPsL8vSS5fz9n1A=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/04-21-2020/t_b73849a1c83d4fad99b8726431086972_name_image.jpg)
Alcohol not linked to an increased COVID-19 risk
Dr. Frank McGeorge is constantly monitoring the developments, including several studies that mold our view of COVID-19. It has been widely reported in many publications that the World Health Organization โwarned that drinking alcohol can worsen coronavirus,โ or some variation of that report. First, thereโs a myth that drinking alcohol can kill the virus. Officials are also concerned that during a global lockdown, alcohol use has increased, which leads to more alcoholism and risk-taking behaviors. Itโs a simple fact that alcohol overuse isnโt good for overall health and immune function, but modest use hasnโt been linked to any increased risk with COVID-19.
![At least 9,000 healthcare workers confirmed to have COVID-19 nationwide](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/vwpzQ-k-e1XVK5_uJvoACn2djVY=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/04-20-2020/t_88620ccfe69746bd858bb3e12eec982c_name_image.jpg)
At least 9,000 healthcare workers confirmed to have COVID-19 nationwide
DETROIT โ Healthcare workers put their lives on the line every day to care for people affected by COVID-19. The risk for certain groups of healthcare workers is very serious. Of the 315,000 coronavirus cases reported to the CDC between February 12 and April 9, there were more than 9,000 who were healthcare workers. Of the 9,000, the CDC reported 723 were hospitalized and 27 died. While the numbers are likely higher, healthcare workers are less likely to hospitalized than the general population.
![Simple, effective ways to make your Facebook conversations more civil](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/c7EfAhLxBa7vKqC206K-Xy8hRaE=/1600x1063/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-gmg.s3.amazonaws.com/public/KXY6CZGZQBCYJGT3GLJ337RR4Y.jpg)
Simple, effective ways to make your Facebook conversations more civil
Anyone else finding themselves spending more time than usual on social media, considering the coronavirus pandemic? But like most things, Facebook is whatever you want to make it. You donโt have to give up on social media in general, or even Facebook in particular. The social media giants say theyโre working hard behind the scenes to remove bot accounts and build a better platform. In the meantime, here are some simple yet effective things you can do to make your own Facebook interactions less contentious and more civil.