COVID-19 misinformation by the United States

U.S. Surgeon General Twitter

@Surgeon_General

Seriously people- STOP BUYING MASKS!
They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus, but if healthcare providers can't get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!
bit.ly/37Ay6Cm

Feb 29, 2020^[1]^[2]

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Misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic has been propagated by various public figures, including officials of the United States government. The Trump administration in particular made a large number of misleading statements about the pandemic. A Cornell University study found that former U.S. President Donald Trump was "likely the largest driver" of the COVID-19 misinformation infodemic in English-language media,^[3] downplaying the virus and promoting unapproved drugs. Others have also been accused of spreading misinformation, including U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, backing conspiracy theories regarding the origin of the virus,^[4]^[5] U.S. senators and New York City mayor Bill de Blasio, who downplayed the virus.

^ "You were told no mask if you don't have coronavirus. That might be wrong. | Bridge Michigan". www.bridgemi.com. Archived from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
^ Bacon, John. "'Seriously people - STOP BUYING MASKS!': Surgeon general says they won't protect from coronavirus". The Florida Times-Union. Archived from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
^ Stolberg, Sheryl Gay; Weiland, Noah (October 22, 2020). "Study Finds 'Single Largest Driver' of Coronavirus Misinformation: Trump". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2021.(Study Archived February 14, 2021, at the Wayback Machine)
^ "US chief diplomat Pompeo backs coronavirus Wuhan lab claims | DW | May 3, 2020". DW.COM. Archived from the original on April 21, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
^ Lopez, Linette. "Here's an idea why Secretary of State Pompeo keeps spreading the conspiracy theory that coronavirus escaped from a Chinese lab". Business Insider. Archived from the original on April 21, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2021.