Unproven Virus Theories Get a Boost From Silicon Valley’s Loudest Figures

Hi, it's Sarah McBride. Technologists were among the first to recognize the threat posed by Covid-19 in the U.S. Back in February, when health officials were cautioning people to worry more about the flu than the novel coronavirus, many venture capitalists and executives were already sounding the alarm on Twitter, stockpiling supplies and preparing to send employees home.

But a willingness to stake out bold and controversial claims can be problematic when paired with epidemiology. And some Silicon Valley denizens have unreservedly collided with scientific consensus and public health advice.