Face mask exemption cards and other US claims fact-checked
Coronavirus: Face mask exemption cards and other US claims fact-checked
By Jack Goodman
BBC Reality Check
Read more here: https://www.bbc.com/news/53266431?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world&link_location=live-reporting-story
Excerpts:
The cards for sale state that "under the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), I am not required to disclose my condition to you".
One version includes a Justice Department seal and a link to the "Freedom to Breathe Agency". The cards warn that businesses could be reported to this so-called agency. But the cards are not genuine. An official government statement said: "These cards do not carry the force of law. The 'Freedom to Breathe Agency,' or FTBA,' is not a government agency."
According to fact-checkers Snopes, the Freedom to Breathe Agency is a Facebook group calling itself a "movement of proud American citizens who are dedicated to protecting their freedom and liberty".
No evidence masks harm the immune system. Meanwhile, medical misinformation about masks continues to circulate.
One graphic shared thousands of times includes several misleading claims. It's called, What happens when you wear a face mask, and has been marked as containing false information on Instagram.
The article goes on to debunk some other examples of right-wing conspiracy nuttery.
More from BBC Reality Check: https://www.bbc.com/news/reality_check
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