5G spreads the new coronavirus? Foreigners took it for granted and many 5G base stations were burned down

According to foreign media reports, recent conspiracy theories on the Internet have attempted to link the new coronavirus epidemic with the launch of 5G technology. Although there is no scientific basis, several 5G base station towers have been burned in the UK. On platforms such as Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram, conspiracy theories spread rapidly, and the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) also clearly stated: "5G technology does not cause the new coronavirus."

All conspiracy theories that attempt to link 5G technology to the coronavirus are completely unfounded. The virus is also spreading in countries where 5G networks have not yet been built, and the electromagnetic waves of 5G networks do not cause harm to the human body. The epidemic is caused by an infectious virus that has nothing to do with electromagnetic waves. In general, there is no correlation between the construction of 5G and the coronavirus epidemic: although the two are happening at the same time, if you look at the situation in specific countries, you will find that the two are completely unrelated.

Professor Steven Powis, medical director of NHS England, said that the link between 5G and the new coronavirus was "shocking" and "absolute and utter nonsense." The British government also called these claims "dangerous nonsense."

These conspiracy theories believe that the new coronavirus can be transmitted through 5G networks, or that 5G networks affect the human immune system. Neither of these statements is true. If you want to understand why there is no connection between 5G and the virus, you must understand why the power of 5G electromagnetic waves is not enough to damage human cells and spread the virus. Similar to previous 4G and 3G networks, the electromagnetic waves used in 5G networks are low-frequency non-ionizing radiation. Unlike ionizing radiation sources such as X-rays, gamma rays, and ultraviolet rays, these electromagnetic waves are at the opposite end of the spectrum.

Therefore, 5G electromagnetic waves are not enough to heat human cells and weaken the immune system. Simon Clarke, associate professor of cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, said in a recent interview with the BBC: "The idea that 5G networks will affect the immune system does not stand up to scrutiny."

Likewise, radio waves and viruses spread differently. The coronavirus is usually spread from person to person through droplets produced by coughs, sneezes, and breathing. The only viruses that can spread through radio waves are computer viruses, not biological viruses.

On the other hand, the epidemic has also hit countries such as Iran, India and Japan, which have not yet built 5G networks. Iran has reportedly just finalized its regulatory plan for 5G and plans to launch the technology later this year. Iran currently has more than 66,000 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus. Japan just started building 5G in the past week, while India's 5G network construction may be delayed due to the epidemic. Meanwhile, South Korea has been building a 5G network for a year, but South Korea was not the first country to be hit by the epidemic.

Regulators, scientists and independent groups have largely cleared up concerns about 5G networks. Although 5G networks use millimeter wave bands in their deployment, which are higher frequencies than 4G and 3G networks, the levels of electromagnetic radiation recorded by British regulators for 5G are well below international guidelines. The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) also did not find any evidence that 5G networks pose a risk to human health.

Eric van Rongen, president of the ICNIRP, which last month updated its guidelines after seven years of research, said: "If the new guidelines are followed, 5G technology will not cause any harm."

Many conspiracy theories about the connection between the new coronavirus and 5G stem from purposeful misinformation campaigns. The New York Times reported last year that Russia is actively exploiting public concerns about the impact of 5G on human health. More than a year ago, RT America, a Russian government-funded television network, broadcast a report saying that 5G "could kill you."

The European Union's task force is also tracking the disinformation campaigns, warning that "some countries and state-backed groups are trying to exploit the public health crisis to advance geopolitical interests."

Many recent conspiracy theories seem to have originated from a Belgian newspaper, which previously published a report without any scientific basis, saying that "5G threatens life" and tried to link the origin of the virus to the construction of 5G networks. Although the article also quoted a doctor as saying, "I have not fact-checked this," this did not stop conspiracy theorists from spreading the news in English media.

After a spate of attacks on 5G towers, UK mobile operators have called on the public to stop spreading these false information. Earlier this week, the UK's four major operators said in a joint statement: "Please help us stop this. If you see our employees being attacked, please report it immediately. If you see false information, please point it out."

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