On January 25, Facebook user Gocha Bakradze published a post, where the provided information in Georgian and Russian languages alleges that German scientists discovered that coronavirus is a bacteria, not a virus, whereas the cause of death in infected people was actually the onset of thrombosis. According to the author’s claim, the autopsy of people who died of COVID-19 is banned to cover up the cause of death. In Germany, 14 000 patients were treated with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and blood thinners and because of this, all of them recovered in one day. As of February 3, the post has 278 shares.
Gocha Bakradze’s post contains several pieces of disinformation, in reality, 1) COVID-19 infection is caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus and not a bacteria; 2) Autopsy of people who died of COVID-19 isn’t banned; 3) Using antibiotics to treat COVID-19 isn’t effective since the infection is caused by the virus. As for the anti-inflammatory drugs and blood-thinners, they are only used in the prevention and treatment of some COVID-19 symptoms.
- What is COVID-19 and how is it treated?
A new type of SARS-CoV-2 virus causing COVID-19 belongs to a Coronaviridae family and it has long been proven that it is not a bacteria.
As for the COVID-19 treatment, since it is not a bacterial disease, treatment with antibiotics is ineffective, however, it is used if the patient has bacterial co-infections or the severity of the patient’s health condition requires the prevention of such infection.
In the treatment of COVID-19 infected individuals, anti-inflammatory drugs are used in case of high temperature, the blood-thinners are used as well since the studies showed that in acute infections, patients might develop thrombosis due to blood clotting, which could become the cause of death. However, this doesn’t imply COVID-19 should be treated solely with blood thinners and that thrombosis is the only cause of death. Patients take blood thinners per strict recommendations from the doctor to avoid overdose and bleeding.
- The autopsy of people who died of COVID-19 isn’t banned
In Gocha Bakradze’s post, we read that the autopsy of people who died of COVID-19 is banned to cover up the real cause (thrombosis) of death. In reality, the autopsy isn’t banned and the World Health Organization developed a guideline of autopsying COVID-19 bodies back on March 24, 2020. The guideline notes that an autopsy should be conducted when all the safety measures are in place.
- Identical disinformation was also disseminated about Italy
Disinformation alleging that COVID-19 is a bacteria, not a virus, the autopsy of COVID-19 bodies is banned and that people only died of thrombosis has disseminated as a discovery of Italian scientists during the first wave of the pandemic. Fact-checking portals Reuters and Associated Press fact-checked the information in May 2020. As for the German study mentioned in Gocha Bakradze’s post, during which 14 000 COVID-19 infected patients were treated with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, blood-thinners and recovered in one day, no scientific study with such content and findings can be found in open sources.
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