As the coronavirus pandemic grips the globe, a conspiracy theory has been spread that it is being caused by 5G masts. Now, it has been officially dispanded by scientists.

This comes as a number of masts have been set on fire and engineers have been subject to waves of abuse in recent days.

Scientists have said that any perceived connection between 5G masts and the pandemic is "complete rubbish" and fundamentally wrong.

In an interview with BBC News, Dr. Simon Clarke, an associate professor in cellular microbiology from the University of Reading tore apart both theories, saying: "The idea that 5G lowers your immune system doesn't stand up to scrutiny."

"Your immune system can be dipped by all sorts of things - by being tired one day, or not having a good diet. Those fluctuations aren't huge but can make you more susceptible to catching viruses."

Clarke continued: "Radio waves can disrupt your physiology as they heat you up, meaning your immune system can't function. But [the energy levels from] 5G radio waves are tiny and they are nowhere near strong enough to affect the immune system. There have been lots of studies on this."

The conspiracy theory has been widely circulated on social media and by celebrities such as Woody Harrelson. He shared pictures of a 5G masts being torn down in China, but it was later discovered that it was taken in August 2019, per the BBC News.

Amir Khan is also alleged to have shared a number of controversial videos on social media where he described the virus as a "man-made thing" intended for "population control", talkSPORT reports.

The national medical director of NHS England Professor Steve Powis said the conspiracy was "the worst kind of fake news" at a Downing Street press conference on April 4.

He said: "I'm absolutely outraged, absolutely disgusted, that people would be taking action against the very infrastructure that we need to respond to this health emergency. It is absolute and utter rubbish."

The theory was also disbanded by the  World Health Organisation (WHO). They said that after extensive research "no adverse health effect has been causally linked with exposure to wireless technologies".

As the coronavirus pandemic grips the globe, a conspiracy theory has been spread that it is being caused by 5G masts. Now, it has been officially dispanded by scientists.

This comes as a number of masts have been set on fire and engineers have been subject to waves of abuse in recent days.

Scientists have said that any perceived connection between 5G masts and the pandemic is "complete rubbish" and fundamentally wrong.

In an interview with BBC News, Dr. Simon Clarke, an associate professor in cellular microbiology from the University of Reading tore apart both theories, saying: "The idea that 5G lowers your immune system doesn't stand up to scrutiny."

"Your immune system can be dipped by all sorts of things - by being tired one day, or not having a good diet. Those fluctuations aren't huge but can make you more susceptible to catching viruses."

Clarke continued: "Radio waves can disrupt your physiology as they heat you up, meaning your immune system can't function. But [the energy levels from] 5G radio waves are tiny and they are nowhere near strong enough to affect the immune system. There have been lots of studies on this."

The conspiracy theory has been widely circulated on social media and by celebrities such as Woody Harrelson. He shared pictures of a 5G masts being torn down in China, but it was later discovered that it was taken in August 2019, per the BBC News.

Amir Khan is also alleged to have shared a number of controversial videos on social media where he described the virus as a "man-made thing" intended for "population control", talkSPORT reports.

The national medical director of NHS England Professor Steve Powis said the conspiracy was "the worst kind of fake news" at a Downing Street press conference on April 4.

He said: "I'm absolutely outraged, absolutely disgusted, that people would be taking action against the very infrastructure that we need to respond to this health emergency. It is absolute and utter rubbish."

The theory was also disbanded by the  World Health Organisation (WHO). They said that after extensive research "no adverse health effect has been causally linked with exposure to wireless technologies".