The Cabinet Office has rebutted about 70 false claims per week since the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis hit the UK, the Culture Secretary said today.

The Government set up a counter disinformation unit last month to monitor social media and respond to false claims about the virus.

Oliver Dowden (pictured) told the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee today that the Cabinet Office is leading on the “rebuttal of false narratives” as part of the unit, but that it also involves the Home Office, DCMS, Number 10 and other agencies.