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The Infodemic: Rumors in Wuhan; WHO’s troubles in Africa; the pseudo-remedy gadget that politicians love

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We are tracking the global spread of coronavirus disinformation and how it’s shaping the pandemic response. Let's dive straight in.

We have been looking into rumors and fake stories surrounding the situation in Wuhan, where authorities are trying to test 11 million people. Here’s what you need to know:

• While state media have been hailing the government’s new testing technology, there’s been a lot of skepticism about whether it will actually be possible to test 11 million people in 10 days. 
• There are whispers of a new outbreak as authorities keep finding asymptomatic cases. When a Wuhan citizen journalist tried to visit some neighborhoods, she found they’d gone quietly into lockdown again. 
• Meanwhile, a local official in the neighborhood of Sanmin, where a new Covid-19 cluster was found, has been sacked for his handling of the situation. 
• Rumors and fake stories about new wet market infections and people collapsing are circulating on WeChat. Everyone seems to be on edge. 

THE BATTLE BETWEEN SCIENTISTS AND POPULIST LEADERS IS HEATING UP 

Scanning headlines from around the world, one thing is obvious: the tension between scientists and politicians is reaching a boiling point.

In the United States, President Trump is now publicly complaining about Anthony Fauci. But have a look at how the same trend is playing out elsewhere.