⁍ Social media users are sharing a claim that mortgage applications are being declined for people who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

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⁍ Reuters could not find any evidence to show this is the case.

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⁍ However, if someone wants to protect their loan with insurance cover, a positive test could be an issue.

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– If you’re in the UK and have tested positive for the new coronavirus, you may want to think twice about getting a mortgage. Social media posts claim that lenders are turning away people with the virus, Reuters reports. “A friend has just been told he can’t get a mortgage because he had a positive rona [sic] test weeks ago,” reads one of the posts. “They said they don’t know how it’s going to affect his lungs in the future, so he doesn’t qualify.” “And you thickos still think it’s about the virus,” reads another, though Reuters couldn’t find any evidence to back up the claim. “We can see no reason why any lender would be concerned about someone testing positive for Covid,” says a spokesman for Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority. “If the wider pandemic had resulted in someone losing their job or a significant amount of income, this could be a reason for a mortgage to be refused.” Indeed, the British Medical Association has reported that some health workers who tested positive for the virus have had insurance applications deferred until they’re fully recovered.