Yes, this is true. I believe the internet is not the place to verify things. The labs are. But since we are can't afford labs, those who can simply bring their findings to the internet and push the policies on the rest of the world.
If only each nation could make their labs and ensure their own protection from the obvious virus, well there may not have been as much complications like you said. It still boils down to having the wrong data on there and playing the market game.