As the world battles the deadly COVID-19 pandemic and people are searching for clear facts and answers to questions, that could help save countless lives, \u201ca dangerous epidemic of misinformation\u201d is<\/p>\n
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As the world battles the deadly COVID-19 pandemic and people are searching for clear facts and answers to questions, that could help save countless lives, \u201ca dangerous epidemic of misinformation\u201d is also spreading, the United Nations chief warned on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres describes the impact of the coronavirus as \u201cthe most challenging crisis we have faced since the Second World War\u201d, leaving millions scared, and seeking clear advice on how best to protect themselves and their families.<\/p>\n
While it is a time for science and solidarity, a \u201cglobal \u2018misinfo-demic\u2019 is spreading\u201d, he said in a video message.<\/p>\n
New Yorkers are being encouraged to practice social distancing to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHarmful health advice and snake-oil solutions are proliferating\u201d, Mr. Guterres spelled out. \u201cFalsehoods are filling the airwaves. Wild conspiracy theories are infecting the Internet. Hatred is going viral, stigmatizing and vilifying people and groups\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Underscoring that the world must also unite against COVID-19, he prescribed \u201cthe vaccine\u201d of trust.<\/p>\n
First, he urged, \u201ctrust in science\u201d. He also saluted the journalists and others who are fact-checking the mountain of misleading stories and social media posts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cSocial media companies must do more to root out hate and harmful assertions about COVID-19\u201d, he stressed.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Secondly, he advocated for trust in institutions that are grounded in responsive, responsible, evidence-based governance and leadership.<\/p>\n
And finally, he emphasized that we need \u201ctrust in each other\u201d, with mutual respect and human rights as our \u201ccompass\u201d to navigate this crisis.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cTogether, let\u2019s reject the lies and nonsense out there\u201d, asserted the UN chief.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cWith common cause for common sense and facts, we can defeat COVID-19, and build a healthier, more equitable, just and resilient world\u201d, concluded the Secretary-General.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As the world battles the deadly COVID-19 pandemic and people are searching for clear facts and answers to questions, that could help save countless lives, \u201ca dangerous epidemic of misinformation\u201d is As the world battles the deadly COVID-19 pandemic and people are searching for clear facts and answers to questions, that could help save countless …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":20750,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_108372464460192_245495985553329":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[1680,1701],"class_list":["post-8984","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-covid-19","tag-epidemic"],"yoast_head":"\n