Misinformation linking 5G and the coronavirus

The Morrison Government has warned Australians about misinformation linking coronavirus to 5G mobile technology, and urged them to have confidence in Australia’s stringent safety standards and decades of global scientific research about electromagnetic energy (EME).

Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said the radio waves used by all generations of mobile and wireless technologies, including 5G, have been studied rigorously for decades, and there is no evidence that the use of these radio waves in mobile networks is harmful to health or related to the current health pandemic.

“Any suggestions that there is a link between 5G and coronavirus are utterly baseless. As the Chief Medical Officer has said, 5G does not cause the coronavirus and it does not spread coronavirus,” Minister Fletcher said. 

Minister Fletcher said that spreading this type of misinformation is irresponsible, dangerous and could be harmful to the community, citing the recent arson attacks on mobile phone towers in the United Kingdom and New Zealand. 

“Interfering or tampering with telecommunications facilities is a criminal offence. The Australian Government will not tolerate any vandalism of communications infrastructure and I urge Australians to report any suspicious activity to their local police,” Minister Fletcher said.

“Causing damage to mobile phone networks can cut vital connectivity, risking serious harm, even death, if a person is unable to contact Triple Zero.”

Australians are encouraged to rely on reputable and authoritative sources of information, such as Australia’s Chief Medical Officer and the independent Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA). The Chief Medical Officer has made it clear there is no link between 5G and coronavirus, nor does 5G increase the severity of coronavirus or make people more susceptible to coronavirus.

Further Information:

Statement from the Chief Medical Officer on 5G and COVID-19: https://www.health.gov.au/news/covid-19-and-the-new-generation-5g-mobile-phone-network

Statement from the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency: https://www.arpansa.gov.au/news/5g-and-other-telecommunications-do-not-affect-immune-system

Statement from the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association: https://amta.org.au/no-5g-connection-with-covid-19/

Department of Communication’s: www.communications.gov.au/eme