An increasing number of conversations on and offline have claimed to find insidious links between the roll out of 5G networks and coronavirus.

Claims suggesting that COVID-19 serves as a cover up for health hazards of 5G, or that the technology itself suppresses the immune system are just two of a number of theories in circulation that experts say are "baseless".

But celebrities have also joined the conversation, with US actor Woody Harrelson sharing a post on Instagram that linked 5G to the pandemic, and TV personality Jason Gardiner suggesting the World Health Organisation had warned against the mobile network due to the illness.

In the UK, the situation further intensified after reports that at least one phone mast was suspected to have been deliberately set on fire.

Network provider EE told Euronews in an email that its engineers were currently assessing the cause of a blaze at a mast in Birmingham that had caused "significant damage".

The company said: "If it transpires that it was arson, which looks likely at this time, then we will work to help West Midlands Police identify a culprit.

"To deliberately take away mobile connectivity at a time when people need more than ever to stay connected to each other is a reckless, harmful and dangerous thing to do.

"We will try to restore full coverage as quickly as possible, but the damage caused by the fire is significant."

West Midlands Police are yet to confirm the cause.