Debate has raged recently over a YouTube video that suggests 5G was the cause of the coronavirus pandemic. While the next-generation wireless technology is still in the process of rolling out, it has been linked by some to many health-related issues. It looks like the ongoing virus outbreak is the latest.

Even though it is now available in select areas, 5G has been in development for years. What’s more, it is likely to take years before it is widely available, everywhere. With such a slow rollout taking place, the use of 5G has come under criticism many times before, with questions often asked regarding whether it is worth it and if it will provide the type of all-connected, all-immersive experience that’s often touted. For some, it has also raised many questions of whether the wireless technology is safe.

Related: 5G Radiation Guidelines Changed: Here's What You Need To Know

A recent video posted to YouTube by the "Parents For Healthcare Rights" channel shows Dr. Thomas Cowan, M.D. speaking at the Health And Human Rights Summit in Tucson, Arizona, and suggesting that coronavirus is the result of 5G. In the video, Dr Cowan argues that the rolling out of 5G and the emergence of coronavirus is not any different to the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic which Dr Cowan argues was the result of the greater use of radio frequencies, or how a pandemic during World War II was the direct effect of an increased use of radar. Essentially, Cowan suggests that each time a new frequency-based technology is introduced, a viral pandemic follows. Adding to the argument, Dr Cowan stated that Wuhan (the city in China most affected by the outbreak) was the first city in the world to be blanketed with 5G. As Newsweek points out, the debate on the topic has made its way to other social media platforms, with many echoing similar sentiments.

Did 5G Cause Coronavirus?

Virus map

Right now, there’s no evidence that 5G directly causes any health issues, let alone a virus that can be transmitted from person to person. While there may still be unknowns about the long-term effects of increased exposure to 5G, the general consensus is that it is safe. Or at least, relatively as safe as 4G, especially considering 5G is not fundamentally a new technology, but a collection of existing frequencies that are being re-purposed and used collectively under the 5G banner. In fact, as is seen by the rolling out by companies including AT&T, 5G is not even one type or version, with some 5G networks barely distinguishable from 4G LTE.

While it is fair (and sensible) to question health issues relating to any new technology, and especially one as unifying as 5G, to paint cause and effect so simplistically is dangerous. Evidenced by the debate on social media, many will automatically see this as validation of their existing concerns and reinforce (and reshare) views that have not been proven. Even more of a concern is that it distances people from the reality and the dangers of coronavirus. For example, those who live in an area where 5G is not available might assume they are somehow immune to the outbreak. That type of thinking is only going to help coronavirus spread further, irrespective of how it started.

More: 5G Cellphones & Cancer: Possible Health Risks Explained

Source: Newsweek