Unverifiable: Prime Minister Boris Johnson referred to COVID-19 as “Kung flu.”

Johnson's cabinet minister has denied that the PM referred to COVID-19 as Kung flu. According to the Daily Mail, Boris Johnson referred to COVID-19 as Kung-Flu, a phrase repeatedly used by former U.S. President Donald Trump during the election rallies. The term Kung-flu is used in an attempt to blame China of the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. Johnson's former aide Dominic Cummings also suggested that the PM used the phrase at a Cobra meeting. However, Transport Minister Grant Shapps strongly denied claims that Boris Johnson called COVID-19 the “Kung flu.” He suggested that the former adviser was not a reliable witness. The prime minister has faced criticism for making several racist remarks in the past while on record, including comparing Muslim women to "letterboxes" and claiming that Black Africans have "watermelon smiles." However, there is no way of verifying if this specific claim is true. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19 including symptoms, prevention and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organisation or your national healthcare authority.