Online misinformation About Corona Virus is the same consequence as corona virus (COVID-19)
As the coronavirus pandemic is spreading expeditiously across the world, educating people regarding preventive measures is a vital factor to maintain the general wellbeing.
But the internet spamming these days making it complicated. COVID-19 is similar to common flu! Drinking excessive water will cure the novel virus! Taking a hot water bath will prevent you from infection! Spraying chlorine, alcohol all over your body will wash away the virus from your body.
All these misleading information about COVID-19 has been arising persistently on internet platforms since the pandemic outbreak, which is making quarantine blues, even more crumbling, diverting people from the actual preventive measures like social distancing and personal hygiene.
False remedies and irrelevant information are pervasive on every social site just to get engagement on the post because COVID prevention techniques is a trending topic and appear to get frequent retweets and shared.
Don’t panic over these irrelevant messages and always know the source before you forward any messages, often viral messages labeled *forward* on the top of the text.
Recently a news outlet investigated a fake notification by Pakistan Health Minister trending on twitter suggesting various preventive measures of coronavirus including “ drink excessive water to keep your throat safe from obtaining virus.
While the official public advisor only suggested avoiding overcrowded places and avoid close contact with ill people, regular handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and cover your mouth with a mask or disposable tissue when you sneeze or cough as a precautionary measure.
Browse wisely to get relevant information, and limit your trusted resources. To find out the latest reported cases across the world, go to the website www.covid.gov.pk run by the ministry of health, scroll through the official twitter accounts.
Stay away from WhatsApp uncle voice notes, avoid irrelevant videos showing collapsing patients and delivering all the fake remedies and spreading baseless news regarding corona situation all over Pakistan.
For accurate information, actual preventive measures, relevant videos and photos go to WHO ( world health organization) or CDC ( center of disease control ), news outlets and official government accounts.
