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With Covid-19 continuing to spread across the globe and infecting thousands more daily, some conspiracy theorists out there are using this to push their agenda of trying to spread false rumours and false information.
The UK's independent fact checking charity, FullFact.org, has published new research and fact checks that categorically state that the country-wide rollout of 5G from UK network providers is not accelerating the spread of the new coronavirus. See some sections and info below, but the full article can be found here.
The Daily Star has reported on “a new conspiracy theory” surrounding the new coronavirus: that 5G networks could be responsible for the rapid spread of the virus.
As we have written before, there is no evidence to suggest that 5G has anything to do with Covid-19—the illness caused by the new coronavirus.
The headline quoted above has now been changed by the Daily Star to read “Coronavirus: Activists in bizarre claim 5G could be acting as 'accelerator' for disease” and includes a statement by the UK government to say there is "no convincing evidence that 5G is dangerous".
The article refers to two theories to support the claim that 5G accelerates the new coronavirus. Firstly that 5G might suppress the immune system and, secondly, that viruses can communicate through radio waves. Neither of these theories is backed up by evidence. The new coronavirus is also affecting countries and regions where no 5G is present.
There is no evidence that 5G networks are harmful to health
Like the previous generations of wireless network technology (4G, 3G and 2G), 5G mobile data is transmitted over radio waves. Other types of technology that use radio waves include smart meters, TV and radio transmitters, and radar and satellite communications.
Radio waves are a small part of a wider electromagnetic spectrum of waves, which all emit energy called electromagnetic radiation. Radio waves are found at the low-frequency end of the spectrum and—alongside microwaves, visible light and heat—only produce non-ionising radiation. This means that these waves cannot damage the DNA inside cells, which is how waves with higher frequencies (such as x-rays, gamma rays and ultraviolet light) are thought to cause cancer.
To improve the speed and capacity of our wireless technology, 5G uses a higher frequency of radio waves compared to its older generations. The frequency of this new wireless technology remains very low: the maximum levels of electromagnetic radiation measured by Ofcom were about 66 times smaller than the safety limits set by international guidelines.
Public Health England states that “the overall exposure is expected to remain low relative to guidelines and, as such, there should be no consequences for public health.”
This is only half of the article. If you'd like to read more, please check it out here.
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@JamieB14 wrote:
I saw something online about an engineer getting abuse over this to which he explained he is only doing his job. This little conspiracy needs to stop now it’s ridiculous. Especially when it’s getting to a point where installers/engineers are getting abuse over it 😕
100% agree. Our engineers (and all other telecomms engineers across the UK) are key workers, doing essential work in order to keep our country, our customers, and more importantly our NHS and emergency services connected in order for them to communicate.
Vandalism to our masts, or other networks', will only make our NHS and emergency services lives even more difficult at a time when they are already struggling to cope. And I can almost guarantee these tinfoil hat wearers will be the first to complain when they can't call someone or use data due to a mast that has been destroyed.
It's more important now more than ever that we all stay connected and get in touch with family and friends, so to the conspiracy theorists: please stop the vandalism. It's impossible for 5G to cause or spread coronavirus. Your actions and claims are baseless and dangerous, and will only cause further issues for our NHS, emergency services, and you.
