False rumors about the COVID-19 pandemic are dangerous, as people can self-medicate and harm themselves from reading false information. The director general of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adan Gebreisus warned about this, he is quoted by Interfax.
“As soon as the coronavirus spread throughout the world, rumors, false information and misinformation immediately appeared (…). Inaccurate information has increased stigma, which is becoming a barrier to helping those who need it, ”he stressed.
In addition, the WHO director general urged not to spread rumors and prejudices about the infection: he pointed out that this led to violence against health workers, individuals or vulnerable groups of people – for example, refugees. Gebreius also insisted that people should not self-medicate or give up precautions.
An outbreak of COVID-19 pneumonia caused by a novel coronavirus was first recorded in December 2019 in Wuhan. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a pandemic.
