“Back in January, I wrote an article for USA Today saying, we’ve got a pandemic.”
FactCheck.org rated this: Exaggerates
FactCheck.org says: He warned about the “possibility of a pandemic."
Checked elsewhere
Checks published by other fact-checking organisations. We did not do these checks. Each one names who did, shows their rating in their own words, and links to their full article.
“Back in January, I wrote an article for USA Today saying, ‘We’ve got a pandemic. We’ve got a real problem.’”
Washington Post rated this: Half true
Washington Post says: Biden overstates what he said in January; he did not flatly say it was a pandemic, but referred to the “possibility of a pandemic."
“The coronavirus … and this is their new hoax.”
Washington Post rated this: Two Pinocchios
Washington Post says: The Biden ad uses three examples of misleading material
“Some of the vaccines "have to be shipped at 70 degrees below zero”
PolitiFact rated this: Accurate
PolitiFact says: The CDC said that the cold chain storage requirements will vary in temperature from refrigerated (2°C to 8°C) to frozen (-15 to -25°C) to ultra-cold (-60°C to -80°C).
“Claims Joe Biden and running mate Kamala Harris are spreading “anti-vaccine conspiracy theories" about a COVID-19 vaccine.”
FactCheck.org rated this: Distorts the Facts
FactCheck.org says: The candidates support properly approved vaccines, but have expressed concerns — shared by some in the scientific community — that Trump may not follow the standard protocols.
“Joe Biden and Gretchen Whitmer were maskless at the Detroit Athletic Club “while OUR children are being mandated to wear a mask while playing outdoor sports.”
PolitiFact rated this: False
“Military COVID infected: 118,984. Military COVID deaths: 6,114.”
PolitiFact rated this: False
PolitiFact says: Joe Biden’s campaign said he referred incorrectly to “military” when he meant to say “Michigan” in discussing the number of COVID-19 infections and deaths.
“More cops have died from COVID this year than have been killed on patrol.”
PolitiFact rated this: Mostly True
PolitiFact says: The data from two separate groups show COVID-19 deaths outnumber all other deaths.
“Five million Americans infected by COVID-19. More than 170,000 Americans have died. By far the worst performance of any nation on Earth.”
FactCheck.org rated this: Not Worst Per Capita
FactCheck.org says: While that’s true based on the raw totals of COVID-19 cases and deaths, the U.S. is not the worst when adjusted for population or on other metrics.
“Photos show Joe Biden and Kamala Harris at a campaign rally and there is "not a mask in sight.”
FactCheck.org rated this: Misleading
FactCheck.org says: The photos are from early March 2020, before face masks were recommended for public settings by federal health officials.
“Photos show Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Gretchen Whitmer and Cory Booker violating COVID-19 safety precautions.”
PolitiFact rated this: False
“If the vaccine came out tomorrow, how in the heck would we get it to people? There is no game plan.”
PolitiFact rated this: Mostly True
PolitiFact says: The CDC and the National Academies of Sciences are working on recommendations for vaccine distribution. Four states and a city are involved in a pilot to create a model of recommendations.
“On home health workers’ low pay and limited benefits, “40% are still on SNAP or Medicaid.”
PolitiFact rated this: True
PolitiFact says: 42% of direct care workers, a category composed of personal care aides, home health aides and nursing assistants, received some form of public assistance.
“I, all the way back in January, warned (President Trump that) this pandemic was coming. I talked about what we needed to do.”
PolitiFact rated this: Mostly True
PolitiFact says: Biden expressed concern about the coronavirus weeks before Trump did, and he recommended the Obama approach on Ebola, including international cooperation and the use of sound science, in January.
“Says Joe Biden has said 150 million Americans died from guns and another 120 million from COVID-19”
PolitiFact rated this: Mostly True
“If we shut it down a month earlier, we’d have probably another 45,000 to 60,000 people be alive instead of dead because he didn’t listen to — and I’m going to say something outrageous. He did not listen to guys like me back in January saying we have a problem, a pandemic is on the way.”
Washington Post rated this: Two Pinocchios
Washington Post says: Biden leaves the impression he had offered more specific plans to combat the virus. He did not say back in January that it was a pandemic, only that it was a possibility, and he did not advocate social distancing.
“Columbia University "pointed out that if [Trump] had listened to me and others and acted just one week earlier to deal with this virus, there’d be 36,000 fewer people dead.”
FactCheck.org rated this: Distorts the Facts
FactCheck.org says: Biden falsely suggested that he called for implementing nationwide social distancing restrictions prior to March 8, which Columbia University researchers said could have prevented nearly 36,000 U.S. death.
“Until this week, they [OSHA] weren’t even enforcing these guidelines [for coronavirus]. Still today, OSHA is not specifying which rules employees must follow or how to keep their workers safe and healthy.”
PolitiFact rated this: True
PolitiFact says: OSHA did not release any COVID-19 enforcement instructions for its inspectors until April 13, however it told inspectors to focus on its existing general safety standards, not recommendations geared toward the outbreak.
“We also dealt with the whole pandemic that was in Africa. Kept it under control by doing what I urged the president to do months ago, he’s doing now, get the United States military in building hospitals, et cetera, tent hospitals and the like.”
Washington Post rated this: Two Pinocchios
Washington Post says: Biden hadn’t raised building hospitals “months ago.” He first mentioned doing so March 12 during his speech on the coronavirus.
“Says Joe Biden protected China’s feelings during the coronavirus outbreak, saying "It is in our self interest that China continue to prosper.”
PolitiFact rated this: Out of context, said that in 2011