Last checked at 
(Adds background, quote)
LONDON, April 14 (Reuters) - Britain's media regulator Ofcom
is assessing an ITV programme after a presenter
questioned why the mainstream media had slapped down a
conspiracy theory linking the spread of the coronavirus to 5G
masts.
Hosting 'This Morning' on Britain's biggest free-to-air
commercial broadcaster on Monday, Eamonn Holmes said the media
did not know if there was any link between the telecommunication
equipment and the pandemic which had killed 11,329 in Britain by
Sunday.
Ofcom said it had received 419 complaints so far.
"We are assessing this programme in full as a priority," a
spokeswoman said. ITV did not immediately respond to a request
for comment.
Britain's cabinet officer minister, Michael Gove, and senior
health officials have described the 5G conspiracy theory as
dangerous fake news after people vandalised mobile phone masts
and abused telecoms staff in recent weeks.
Telecoms companies including the biggest EE and
Vodafone have said the attacks are threatening
connectivity at a time when it is needed more than ever during
the lockdown.
(Reporting by Kate Holton; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)
