because i love the trump cultists...........

[aubiefifty 18,231]

bbc.com

 

'Hundreds dead' because of Covid-19 misinformation

By Alistair Coleman BBC Monitoring

4-5 minutes

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Image copyright Reuters

Image caption Facebook, Twitter and chat apps like WhatsApp have proved fertile ground for unfounded rumours about Covid-19

At least 800 people died around the world because of coronavirus-related misinformation in the first three months of this year, researchers say.

A study published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene says about 5,800 people were admitted to hospital as a result of false information on social media.

Many died from drinking methanol or alcohol-based cleaning products.

They wrongly believed the products to be a cure for the virus.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has previously said that the "infodemic" surrounding Covid-19 spread just as quickly as the virus itself, with conspiracy theories, rumours and cultural stigma all contributing to deaths and injuries.

False information costs lives

Many of the victims had followed advice resembling credible medical information - such as eating large amounts of garlic or ingesting large quantities of vitamins - as a way of preventing infection, the study's authors say. Others drank substances such as cow urine.

These actions all had "potentially serious implications" on their health, the researchers say.

The paper concludes that it is the responsibility of international agencies, governments and social media platforms to fight back against this "infodemic", but tech companies have been criticised for their slow and patchy response. In the UK, laws to regulate online harm might be several years away.

The BBC's own investigations found links to assaults, arson and deaths as a result of misinformation about the virus, and spoke to doctors, experts and victims about their experiences.

Online rumours led to mob attacks in India and mass poisonings in Iran. Telecommunications engineers have been threatened and attacked and phone masts have been set alight in the UK and other countries because of conspiracy theories that have been incubated and amplified online.

Social media also helps scammers to take advantage of the pandemic, selling ineffective badges that claim to ward off the virus, and urging followers to part with money in exchange for a "mineral miracle supplement", which is - in reality - diluted bleach.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

 

Media captionCoronavirus vaccine: How close are we and who will get it?

Conspiracy threat to Covid-19 vaccine

As vaccines emerge, there is the further threat that anti-vaccine campaigners will use the platform provided by social media to persuade people not to protect themselves.

Despite social media companies removing or labelling misleading information about vaccines, recent polling in the United States showed that 28% of Americans believe that Bill Gates wants to use vaccines to implant microchips in people.

The achievement of an effective coronavirus vaccine could be completely undermined by misinformation, doctors told the BBC's anti-disinformation team.

you fellows be careful what ya believe........

 

 

[wdefromtx 3,610]

But the 5G is causing Covid man!!!!

[AUFAN78 4,156]

1 hour ago, aubiefifty said:

A study published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene says about 5,800 people were admitted to hospital as a result of false information on social media.

Many died from drinking methanol or alcohol-based cleaning products.

Believing social media over a doctors advice not very bright fidy. Never do that. 

[aubiefifty 18,231]

2 minutes ago, AUFAN78 said:

Believing social media over a doctors advice not very bright fidy. Never do that. 

man i am still isolating. if i did not have to run my blind friend around i would not leave except when i have to. no kidding. up fat pot smokers carry that extra risk.............

[wdefromtx 3,610]

4 hours ago, aubiefifty said:

man i am still isolating. if i did not have to run my blind friend around i would not leave except when i have to. no kidding. up fat pot smokers carry that extra risk.............

Not sure about that Fidy, you could be self medicating and preventing infection......light another for science!!! 

https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/coronavirus-cannabis-treatment-potential-cbd-covid-19/#app