Along with the novel coronavirus, other things that went viral were the misinformation and conspiracy theories associated with the virus. From claims that the virus escaped from a Chinese lab to that coronavirus doesn’t exist at all, a range of bizarre conspiracy theories went viral.

Wuhan lab

There is more than one version to this story. Some claimed that the novel coronavirus was being prepared at a Wuhan virology lab and got leaked, many others alleged that China had prepared it as a bio-weapon. 

Among those who fall in this category is the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who on a number of occasions said the virus was developed at the Wuhan lab. 

Although, SARS-CoV-2, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, was first reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan and there is a virology institute in the city, there are no proofs to back the other claims.

Bat soup

Since the coronavirus outbreak, people around the world tried making sense of an invisible contagion that seemed to have taken complete control of their lives.

Earlier this year, videos of Chinese people eating what seemed to be bat soup, went viral on social media. In one such video, a woman was seen holding a cooked bat. People were quick to blame China’s eating habits for the novel coronavirus which was reported to have originated at Wuhan’s wet market.

Although bats carry a number of contagions, there is no proof that they act as hosts for SARS-CoV-2.

5G

If the Wuhan lab theory wasn’t enough, a section of conspiracy theorists claimed that coronavirus was spread by radiations emitted by 5G towers.

Plandemic

The term became popular earlier this year when a 26-minute video was uploaded on YouTube on May 4 in which it was claimed that a cabal of elites was using the coronavirus and a potential vaccine to earn profit and gain power.

In the soon taken down video, a discredited scientist, Judy Mikovits, claimed her research on potential harms of a vaccine was buried. The clip was produced by Mikki Willis who doubled as the show’s interviewer.

Bill Gates

The tech tycoon found himself the target of a section of conspiracy theorists who claims Bill Gates wants to implant microchips in people through the vaccine.

“I’ve never been involved any sort of microchip-type thing,” Gates told reporters, the US media reported. 

A hoax

And then there were those who discredited the virus altogether, those who termed it as a hoax.