The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) seized boxes of N95 masks that tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a video posted by multiple accounts on YouTube and Facebook.
Read more, The FBI confiscated the masks from an alleged hoarder in Brooklyn, USA who was selling with a very high markup price. The masks were later given to medical workers., , , Claim: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) seized boxes of N95 masks that tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a video posted by multiple accounts on YouTube and Facebook., The video was posted as early as April 2 on YouTube and April 3 on Facebook. The posts all said the masks were from China., The YouTube video had 2,770 views as of writing. On Facebook, it had over 1.5 million views, 75,000 shares, and 5,900 reactions as of writing., Claim Check, Facebook’s monitoring tool that identifies potentially dubious posts shared on the platform, flagged the video for fact checking., Rating: FALSE, The facts: The FBI seized the N95 masks from an alleged hoarder in Brooklyn, USA who was selling it at a very high markup, not because it tested positive for the coronavirus. The masks were later distributed to health workers in New York and New Jersey., The official YouTube channels of American broadcaster ABC News and Canadian network CTV News posted news clips on April 2, which showed the same footage as the viral video., According to the US Department of Justice, authorities confiscated nearly 200,000 N95 respirator masks from a man named Baruch Feldheim on March 30. He was in his home in Brooklyn. Feldheim was caught allegedly hoarding the equipment and now faces charges for lying to investigators and coughing on FBI agents who confronted him. Feldheim was selling the masks at 700% markup., A New York Times report said other equipment seized from Feldheim’s home were surgical masks, medical-grade gloves, surgical gowns, disinfectant towels, particulate filters, hand sanitizers, and spray disinfectants., The medical equipment were later redistributed to the New Jersey Department of Health, the New York State Department of Health, and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. ABC News added that Feldheim will be paid at market value, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services., As of April 20, nearly 165,000 deaths were reported globally out of more than 2.3 million declared infections. – Pauline Macaraeg/Rappler.com, Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time., These stories made other people, Welcome to Rappler, a social news network where stories inspire community engagement and digitally fuelled actions for social change. Rappler comes from the root words "rap" (to discuss) + "ripple" (to make waves)., Read more, Email:, Password:, Thank You.\n\nView your profile page\nhere OR\nClick close to continue., Fields with * are required., Email*:, Password*:, First Name:, Last Name:, Birthday:, Gender:, "Ive read the Rappler privacy statement, site use policy, comment moderation policy", Fields with * are required., Thank You.You have successfully updated your account.
FALSE: Video of FBI seizing coronavirus-positive masks from China