Yahoo Movies Fact check: Video shows Chinese children wearing inflatable spacesuits inspired by astronauts
The claim: Video shows Chinese schoolchildren wearing hazmat suits
Social media users have shared footage of more than 20 children wearing white inflatable suits with what appear to be backpacks, claiming a link to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"From the hot mess that is China, students are now wearing hazmat suits to school," reads the caption of a Jan. 4 Facebook video with more than 1,700 views in less than three weeks.
The claim also spread on Twitter.
A Jan. 2 tweet, with more than 1,000 interactions, suggests the suits are part of a "covid farce" and that children wear them for their health.
"Watch it carefully! There are some kids without these suits can't (sic) get in classrooms," wrote the poster in a comment.
But that's not the case. Videos show the Chinese schoolchildren wore the "spacesuits" in honor of a space crew.
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USA TODAY reached out to several users who shared the post for comment.
Children wearing costumes inspired by astronauts
Videos indicate the costumes in question are inflatable "spacesuits" that Chinese children wore to school.
The China Global Television Network published a report and a YouTube video that shows footage of first-grade students who sported the suits on Dec. 2, 2021. The video was recorded in Shangrao City, China.
According to CGTN, the teacher said the children were inspired by the Chinese astronauts on the Shenzhou-13 space mission.
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A Getty Images video also shows the Chinese children wearing the costumes.
"Students, wearing inflatable space suits, march at the opening ceremony of school sports day on December 2, 2021 in Shangrao, Jiangxi Province of China," reads the caption of the video.
Our rating: False
Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that a video shows Chinese schoolchildren wearing hazmat suits. Videos show the schoolchildren wore inflatable spacesuits in honor of Chinese astronauts.
Our fact-check sources:
China Global Television Network, Dec. 6, 2021, Cuteness overload! Children in inflatable 'space suits'
China Global Television Network on YouTube, Dec. 6, 2021, Cuteness overload! Children in inflatable 'space suits'
China Global Television Network, Nov. 7, 2021, Live: Special coverage of China's Shenzhou-13 space mission
Getty Images, Dec. 2, 2021, Students Dressed In Inflatable Space Suits On School Sports Day
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Chinese children wore spacesuits, not hazmat outfits
